Study of the short- and long-term outcomes of 65 horses with peritonitis.
Authors: Henderson I S F, Mair T S, Keen J A, Shaw D J, McGorum B C
Journal: The Veterinary record
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Long-term outcomes in equine peritonitis Peritonitis carries significant clinical and economic implications for equine practitioners, yet little is known about survival trajectories beyond the immediate post-treatment period. Henderson and colleagues reviewed 65 cases of non-surgical peritonitis (defined as >5 × 10⁹ nucleated cells/l peritoneal fluid) managed at two UK referral centres over 12 years, achieving an 86% discharge rate with follow-up data available for 38 horses. Long-term survival to 12 months occurred in 32 of these discharged horses (84%), though a concerning 34% of survivors developed complications potentially related to peritonitis, with eight of these ultimately requiring euthanasia. Aetiology significantly influenced prognosis: peritonitis secondary to urinary tract disease or intra-abdominal masses carried substantially poorer outcomes, whilst the remaining 50 idiopathic cases showed a 94% discharge survival rate, indicating that identifying the underlying cause is crucial for both treatment planning and owner counselling. For practitioners managing peritonitis cases, these data suggest realistic expectations of good medium-term survival in many horses, whilst highlighting the need for vigilant post-discharge monitoring, particularly given the high incidence of recurrent or sequelae complications that may ultimately compromise long-term quality of life.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Most horses with peritonitis can be successfully treated and discharged (86%), making aggressive medical management a reasonable approach in referral cases
- •Long-term prognosis is generally good with 84% surviving beyond 12 months, but monitor discharged horses closely as one-third develop post-peritonitis complications including recurrent colic
- •Identify the underlying cause of peritonitis when possible, as secondary causes (urinary/mass-related) carry poorer prognosis than idiopathic peritonitis
Key Findings
- •86% (56/65) of horses with peritonitis survived to discharge
- •84% (32/38) of horses with follow-up information survived at least 12 months post-discharge
- •34% (13/38) of discharged horses experienced complications potentially related to peritonitis, with 62% (8/13) of these requiring euthanasia
- •Peritonitis secondary to urinary tract involvement or intra-abdominal masses had lower survival rates than idiopathic cases (94% survival in 47 cases of unknown cause)