Effect of a stent bandage on the likelihood of incisional infection following exploratory coeliotomy for colic in horses: a comparative retrospective study.
Authors: Tnibar A, Grubbe Lin K, Thurøe Nielsen K, Christophersen M T, Lindegaard C, Martinussen T, Ekstrøm C T
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Post-operative incisional infection represents a significant complication following ventral midline coeliotomy in colic cases, yet clinical practice regarding preventative measures remains variable. This Danish retrospective analysis examined 130 horses that survived at least 10 days post-surgery, comparing 55 animals managed without stent bandaging against 75 that received one, whilst controlling for multiple variables including surgical duration, antimicrobial protocols, and surgeon effect. The protective benefit of stent bandaging was substantial: incisional infection rates fell from 21.8% in the non-bandaged group to just 2.7% in the bandaged cohort, with the latter group notably free from infection during the final 20 months of the study period (P = 0.005). For farriers and equine practitioners involved in post-operative care, these findings provide robust evidence to support stent bandage application as a straightforward, cost-effective intervention to significantly reduce one of the most common and costly complications of colic surgery. Given that infection prevention directly impacts recovery timelines, owner satisfaction, and long-term prognosis, consideration should be given to adopting this technique as standard practice for exploratory coeliotomy cases.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Use of a stent bandage on incisions following colic surgery significantly reduces infection risk from ~22% to ~3%, making it a practical and evidence-based recommendation for post-operative care
- •Implementation of stent bandage protocols should be considered standard practice for ventral midline coeliotomies in colic cases to improve surgical outcomes
- •This simple, non-invasive intervention provides substantial clinical benefit with minimal cost or complexity in post-operative management
Key Findings
- •Incisional infection rate was 21.8% (12/55) in horses without stent bandage compared to 2.7% (2/75) with stent bandage
- •Use of stent bandage was the only statistically significant factor reducing incisional infection likelihood (P = 0.005)
- •No incisional infections were observed in the stent group during the final 20 months of the study period