Postcastration eventration in 18 horses: the prognostic indicators for long-term survival (1985-1995).

Castration of horses is considered a common and routine surgical procedure, but the potential for complications is high. By far the most serious of these is eventration. The objectives of this study were to determine the long-term survival of horses undergoing surgical treatment of indirect (1) inguinal eventration of the small intestine following castration, and to identify prognostic indicators for survival. The case records of 18 horses undergoing surgical treatment of postcastration eventration (PCE) between 1985 and 1995 were reviewed. Follow-up information was obtained by telephone interviews 2 to 13 y postoperatively. A Cox proportional hazard regression model was fitted to determine which clinical features were of significant influence to survival. Clinical features with a significant negative influence on survival were an inguinal surgical approach for correction, an increased length of prolapsed bowel, and performance of bowel resection and anastomosis. Significant postoperative complications developed in 89% of cases; 44% of cases in the "inguinal" surgical approach group developed peritonitis, compared with 10% in the "midline" approach group. Of all horses in this study, 72% were discharged from the hospital; however, only 40% of horses in the inguinal approach group were discharged. The long term survival rate (> 1 y) for all horses in this study was 44%, with a median survival time of 3-1/2 mo.

Ethmoid adenocarcinoma perforating the cribriform plate in the horse.

This clinical report describes an 8-year-old Thoroughbred mare that was presented for evaluation of a chronic, unilateral nasal discharge. Findings on physical examination, radiology, and video-endoscopy supported a clinical diagnosis of ethmoidal hematoma. After surgical ablation of the mass a defect was detected in the cribriform plate. At necropsy a 1.5 cm aperture was identified in the left cribriform plate allowing direct communication between the fundus of the nasal cavity and the cranium. Histology of the mass identified tissue consistent with an adenocarcinoma. History of profuse epistaxis warrants further investigation to differentiate malignant lesions from the more common benign lesions. During surgical ablation of large, space-occupying masses of the caudodorsal nasal cavity the cribriform plate should be examined for defects or secondary erosive lesions.