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  Discussion on Post colic surgery complications
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Posted on Wednesday, Mar 20, 2002 - 12:19 pm:

I have read everything I could find and not seen this subject addressed in full. What are the implications of a horse having 1. Post surgical adhesions. 2. Possible damage to muscle mass in the hindquarters and pelvis area from the position of the animal during surgery?

I am the proud owner of a survivor of impaction colic surgery February 2, 2001. Money is a four year old QH filly and has had many mysterious symptoms since the apparent healing of her incision. I posted on the ulcer discussion with a list of these problems. Since then my vet and I have ruled out ovarian cysts, tying-up, complications from a virus infection, multiple blood work is always within normal limits. After she is exercised (she rides like a dream), she goes off her feed and is extremely defensive about being touched anywhere on her body. When given Bute her appetite and demeanor are much improved. She was never like this when I rode her prior to the surgery. It is definitely NOT all in my mind nor hers. I am about at my wits end.

Posted on Thursday, Mar 21, 2002 - 7:05 am:

Taking your questions one at a time:
1) Ongoing mild to serious bouts of colic including obstructions following surgery. This is a common complication.
2) An difficulty or an inability to rise after the anesthesia has worn off and possibly requiring euthanasia if severe enough. But this complication is fairly rare nowadays.

The type surgery, more details on the unusual behavior and what elicits it, the diagnostics done up to now and there results (both normal and abnormal) may give us a clearer picture of what is going on but first thought is it sounds like she is having recurrent bouts of pain and the most likely source of the pain is the abdomen.
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Mar 21, 2002 - 3:49 pm:

I guess I wasn't clear about what I was asking. I want to know, how one would know if a horse had adhesions and what that means to future usefulness. Likewise, has there ever been a instance where injury to the muscles of the hindquarters/pelvis etc...has occurred because of the position necessary to do colic surgery.

Posted on Friday, Mar 22, 2002 - 6:33 am:

Hello Peggy,
The definitive diagnosis of a post surgical abdominal adhesions is difficult. But when you have bouts of post surgical colic it goes to the top of the list when other causes are not identified, particularly if it seems to be an "obstructive" type colic with fluid or ingesta backing up proximal to a point in the bowel. The adhesion is assumed to be at this point. It would require surgery to visualize the adhesion and definitively diagnose it.

Yes muscles damage has occurred due to surgery but this is not much of a diagnostic challenge as the signs of weakness, stiffness, and if severe muscle atrophy over time are very characteristic.
DrO
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