Colon resection and anastomosis as treatment of an idiopathic colo‐colic intussusception in an adult horse
Authors: Barnes Hattie, Wilkinson Sarah, Gillen Alexandra, Stack John D.
Journal: Equine Veterinary Education
Summary
# Editorial Summary An 18-year-old Thoroughbred gelding presenting with acute colic underwent exploratory celiotomy after rectal palpation indicated significant large colon distension unresponsive to analgesia, revealing a colo-colic intussusception of approximately 20 cm involving the left dorsal colon. Initial reduction was attempted following exteriorisation, but the substantial thickening of the colon wall and persistent luminal obstruction necessitated partial resection of the left dorsal and ventral colon with side-to-side anastomosis to restore gastrointestinal continuity. Histopathological examination of the resected tissue failed to identify an underlying aetiology for the intussusception, consistent with idiopathic cases reported in the literature. The gelding recovered uneventfully from anaesthesia and progressed well through the post-operative period, with 11-month follow-up confirming complete clinical recovery and successful return to light exercise. This case illustrates that whilst colo-colic intussusceptions in adult horses carry a guarded prognosis, resection with anastomosis can offer a viable therapeutic option when conservative reduction is contraindicated by irreversible mucosal damage or wall compromise, though practitioners should counsel clients that even with surgical intervention, the underlying cause frequently remains undetermined.
Read the full abstract on the publisher's site
Practical Takeaways
- •Colo-colic intussusception can occur idiopathically in adult horses; when reduction alone is not feasible due to wall damage or persistent obstruction, partial colon resection with anastomosis is a viable surgical option.
- •This case demonstrates that horses can maintain normal gastrointestinal function and return to ridden work after significant colon resection, providing a favourable prognosis for surgical colic cases involving resection.
- •Rectal palpation findings of marked large colon distension combined with transient response to analgesia warrant consideration of exploratory celiotomy to identify surgical lesions.
Key Findings
- •An 18-year-old Thoroughbred with idiopathic left dorsal colon intussusception (approximately 20 cm in length) was successfully treated with partial colon resection and side-to-side anastomosis.
- •Histopathology revealed no identifiable underlying cause for the intussusception despite marked colon wall thickening.
- •The horse made an unremarkable recovery from anaesthesia and achieved complete clinical recovery with return to light exercise at 11 months post-operatively.