The effect of low dose heparin therapy on complication and survival rates in horses following exploratory celiotomy.

A randomised, blind prospective study was performed to evaluate effects of low dose heparin therapy on complication and survival rates in 33 horses following exploratory celiotomy. Four horses had non-strangulating lesions and seven had strangulating lesions of the small intestine, 19 had non-strangulating lesions of the large intestine, and three had duodenitis-proximal jejunitis. Eighteen required an enterotomy or intestinal resection and anastomosis. Sixteen received heparin subcutaneously (66 iu/kg every 12 h) post operatively and 17 received a saline placebo for a mean of 3.7 days. There was a significant (P < 0.01) mean decrease in PCV (29.1 per cent) in the heparin group. No significant differences in complication or survival rates were seen between groups. Long term follow-up was obtained for 10 horses in each group. There were no significant differences between groups.