Equine colic outcomes and prognostic factors at a South African academic hospital (2019–2021)

Abstract

BACKGROUND : Colic is a common equine emergency requiring medical or surgical intervention. These interventions can be costly, making outcomes data and prognostic indicators essential for guiding referral and treatment decisions. OBJECTIVES : To determine survival rates to hospital discharge and evaluate prognostic indicators in equine colic cases treated at a referral hospital (Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital [OVAH], South Africa). METHODS : This retrospective observational cohort study analysed records from horses with colic that were presented to the OVAH from January 2019 to August 2021. Data included signalment, admission heart rate (HR) and packed cell volume (PCV), treatment type (medical vs. surgical), surgical diagnosis, postoperative complications, and survival to discharge. RESULTS : Of 415 cases, 375 were treated (292 medically, 83 surgically). 91% of medically, 77% of surgically treated, and 88% overall survived. Compared to a previous study, overall survival to discharge improved by 5% (p = 0.025), mainly due to improved surgical outcomes. Survival was associated with treatment type and surgical lesion site (lower for small intestinal than large intestinal lesions). Medically treated cases with an increased HR and surgical cases with a high PCV had lower survival rates. Signalment showed no association with outcomes. CONCLUSION : Survival rates to discharge were comparable to previously published international reports and showed significant improvement to previous results from the same institution, due to improved surgical outcomes. These findings can assist veterinarians in referral and treatment decisions. Further research on long-term survival and additional prognostic indicators is required to improve outcome predictions for equine colic treatment.