Use of intraoperative peritoneal fluid bacteriology as a short-term prognostic factor in horses that underwent colic surgery

Abstract

Colic is the most common emergency in equine veterinary medicine, and it affects horses and ponies of all ages, breeds, sex and purposes. At times, emergency exploratory laparotomy is needed as treatment. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine if there was an association between positive intraoperative peritoneal fluid (PF) cultures and short term survival, the development of surgical site infections, and other post operative complications. Hospitalization records of 361 horses were retrospectively reviewed. There was a positive association between positive PF culture and surgical site infection. There was a positive association between surgical site infection, diagnosis of a primary small intestine lesion, antimicrobial regimen and leukopenia.