Effect of a ventral midline colopexy on large colon volvulus recurrence and days to next live foal in Thoroughbred broodmares.

OBJECTIVE

To report the impact of ventral midline colopexy on colic, recurrence of large colon volvulus (LCV) and time to next live foal.

STUDY

DESIGN

Retrospective case control study.

ANIMALS: A total of 188 Thoroughbred broodmares surgically treated for LCV (2016-2020).

METHODS

Horses treated for LCV were grouped based on whether they received a colopexy (CP) or did not (NCP). All broodmares that underwent a second LCV surgery were subsequently categorized into two groups: those that received a colopexy (RCP) and those that did not (NRCP). Differences in the number of horses with large colon compromise, postoperative complications, days until discharge, survival, re-presentation for colic, LCV recurrence and days to next live foal were compared between the CP and NCP groups and between the RCP and NRCP groups.

RESULTS

The OR for re-presenting for colic when a colopexy was not performed was 3.13 (95% CI: 1.03-9.48, p-value .046) and 9.74 (95% CI: 1.28-74.90, p-value .0054) for recurrent LCV compared to when a colopexy was performed at the initial surgery. At the subsequent surgery, the OR for re-presentation for colic when a colopexy was not performed was 7.0 (95% CI: 1.23-39.78, p-value .034) and 14.0 (95% CI: 1.52-129.22, p-value .009) for recurrent LCV. Days to next live foal was not significantly different between groups.

CONCLUSION

Ventral midline colopexy reduced the risk of repeat LCV and colic with no effect on foaling.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: These results support the use of the ventral midline colopexy in broodmares. Further research is needed on effects on foaling.