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Background: Juvenile Thoroughbreds can be expensive to raise and train to race. Part of the economic return in these juveniles are the weanling, yearling and 2‐year‐old in training sales at which major surgeries must be declared. Objectives: To determine if surgically corrected large colon displacements were associated with a reduction of sales price and racing performance. We hypothesised that the surgery would be associated with a reduced sales price but would not be associated with a reduction in race earnings or starts. Study design: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: The medical, sales and racing records of horses less than 2 years old that had a surgical diagnosis of large colon displacement were examined (n = 110). Surgical cases were compared with a control group (n = 299) whose sales and racing data were evaluated. Results: There was no significant difference in median sale price overall between the two groups. Horses undergoing surgery had a reduced number of starts in the 2‐year‐old year (1 start; p < 0.001) when compared with control horses (2.32 starts), but no significant difference over the 2‐ to 4‐year‐old period. There was no significant association with surgery on earnings within the 2‐ to 4‐year‐old period of racing when compared with controls. Main limitations: The main limitations for this study were the retrospective design, relatively small number of horses and covering only the 2‐ to 4‐year‐old period of the horses' racing career. Conclusions: Overall, the results of this study suggest that if the juvenile Thoroughbred requires surgery for a large colon displacement, there is minimal association with sales price or race performance compared with their siblings. With this information, it will be easier to make informed decisions to take young horses to surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This case report describes the successful use of intra‐splenic administration of phenylephrine (PE) in a surgical case of nephrosplenic entrapment (NSE) to induce splenic contraction after intravenous phenylephrine administration failed to elicit a response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nephrosplenic space (NSS) ablation has been demonstrated to be an effective technique for prevention of left dorsal displacement of the large colon and multiple laparoscopic techniques, among which ablation with mesh or with a barbed suture, have been proposed. Our objective was to compare two laparoscopic techniques for closure of the NSS in twenty-eight horses diagnosed with nephrosplenic entrapment. Medical records of horses that had laparoscopic NSS ablation in two referral centers between 2017–2019 were retrieved. Duration of surgery, complications, and short- and long-term follow-up information were collected and compared. Costs were also calculated and compared. All horses met the inclusion criteria: 9 had NSS ablation with a mesh implant (group M), 19 with barbed suture material (group B). One horse in group B had recurrent colic after discharge. At control laparoscopy after 5 months, the NSS resulted in still not being ablated because of a failure of the suture. In group M, three horses had recurrent colic. One was successfully treated medically, one died of unknown causes and the third required a second laparoscopic suturing at 3–6 months because of failure of the mesh implant. The mean time of surgery and costs were lower in group B compared to group M. The barbed suture technique was faster, more cost-effective and had a lower complication rate than the mesh implant.

This report describes acute haemoabdomen following phenylephrine administration in a case treated for left dorsal displacement of the large colon. The horse also subsequently developed a severe colitis which was treated with aggressive medical therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colic is the most common problem necessitating emergency care of horses. Obtaining a thorough history and performing a meticulous physical examination is critical when examining a horse with colic. Ancillary tests, such as hematology and serum biochemistry, peritoneal fluid analysis, ultrasonography, and radiography, can be used to obtain a more specific diagnosis, determine the need for exploratory celiotomy, and estimate prognosis. While the causes of colic are numerous and in some cases life-threatening, the majority of horses showing signs of colic respond to basic medical management. The prognosis for horses with more serious causes of colic has improved dramatically over the past 10 years, predominantly because of early referral and surgical intervention. Future epidemiological studies investigating the causes of colic and novel treatment methods for horses with strangulating lesions are necessary for continued improvement in survival rates of the colic patient. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective To describe surgical technique and outcome after laparoscopic closure of the nephrosplenic space for treatment of recurrent left dorsal displacement of the left colon (LDDLC) in standing horses. Study Design Retrospective study. Animals Forty-four horses with LDDLC. Methods Laparoscopic portals were located in the left flank region. After administration of etilefrin intravenously to contract the spleen, the dorsal splenic margin was sutured to the nephrosplenic ligament to obliterate the nephrosplenic space. Horses were re-examined (≤3 years) for history of recurrence. In addition, medical records of 4,852 horses treated for colic over 16 years were evaluated to establish incidence of LDDLC and recurrence after treatment. Results Splenic contraction facilitated suture placement and closure of the nephrosplenic space was achieved without complications. LDDLC recurrence did not occur although 5 horses had subsequent episodes of colic; 4 horses had displacement of the ascending colon between the spleen and body wall. Review of medical records revealed an incidence of LDDLC of 6% and recurrence of 21% in a population of horses with signs of colic. Conclusion Laparoscopic closure of the nephrosplenic space, facilitated by etilefrin-induced splenic contraction can be efficiently performed in standing horses. Clinical Relevance Laparoscopic ablation of the nephrosplenic space should be considered in horses that are predisposed to recurrent LDDLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The entrapment of the left large colon in the nephrosplenic space is a common cause of colic in horses but not in miniature horses and pony breeds. Different techniques have been proposed to prevent this problem, such as colopexy, large colon resection or nephrosplenic space (NSS) ablation. The most recent methods involve closing the NSS with a minimally invasive technique with the horse standing. Multiple techniques have been described for laparoscopic NSS ablation, among which are ablation with a barbed suture and ablation with prosthetic mesh. Although these two methods have been proposed as valid and effective, no direct comparison has yet been made between them. In this study, the two techniques are compared in terms of duration of surgery, short- and long-term complications, and costs. Nephrosplenic space (NSS) ablation has been demonstrated to be an effective technique for prevention of left dorsal displacement of the large colon and multiple laparoscopic techniques, among which ablation with mesh or with a barbed suture, have been proposed. Our objective was to compare two laparoscopic techniques for closure of the NSS in twenty-eight horses diagnosed with nephrosplenic entrapment. Medical records of horses that had laparoscopic NSS ablation in two referral centers between 2017–2019 were retrieved. Duration of surgery, complications, and short- and long-term follow-up information were collected and compared. Costs were also calculated and compared. All horses met the inclusion criteria: 9 had NSS ablation with a mesh implant (group M), 19 with barbed suture material (group B). One horse in group B had recurrent colic after discharge. At control laparoscopy after 5 months, the NSS resulted in still not being ablated because of a failure of the suture. In group M, three horses had recurrent colic. One was successfully treated medically, one died of unknown causes and the third required a second laparoscopic suturing at 3–6 months because of failure of the mesh implant. The mean time of surgery and costs were lower in group B compared to group M. The barbed suture technique was faster, more cost-effective and had a lower complication rate than the mesh implant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Left dorsal displacement or the large colon, also called nephrosplenic entrapment, occurs commonly in horses. A lot of factors including anatomic characteristics, breed, age and gender, added to diet, take part in this disease. The aim of this study is to determinate the main predisposal factors that may contribute to the nephrosplenic entrapment using a statistical tool called metaanalysis. This study is based on the systematic and structured integration of the information obtained from different clinical studies, all of them focused on the nephrosplenic entrapment, in order to evaluate them as a whole and to be able to provide a synthetic and quantitative evaluation of the available studies. To achieve this statistical study we have relied on a series of scientific articles published from 1989 to 2010. We have grouped the different races found in the articles into two groups: warmblood (n=52) and hotblood (n=30). As for sex, were divided into females (n=22) and males, including both together stallions and geldings (n=60). Once performed the meta-analysis test, we can determine that males are more likely to present the nephrosplenic entrapment than mares, and also warm-blooded horses are more likely to have this pathology than hot-blooded horses. The advantage of performing the meta-analysis is that the sample size used is much higher than in any of the articles reviewed separately, so the results are much more reliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to describe and evaluate a laparoscopic technique to promote nephrosplenic space ablation in horses using a homologous pericardium implant, preserved in 98% glycerin and fixed using laparoscopic polydioxanone staples. In this experimental study, six Arabian horses without previous related abdominal diseases were used. The surgical procedures were performed in the standing position under sedation with alpha-2 agonists and opioids, associated with local infiltration of the local anesthetic in the portal sites. The horses were restrained in a stock, and the left flanks were clipped and aseptically prepared. Three portals were created on the left flank, and the homologous pericardium implant, measuring 10 × 5 cm, was introduced into the abdominal cavity covering the nephrosplenic space, positioned between the dorsal border of the spleen and perirenal fascia, fixed with polydioxanone staples using a laparoscopic stapler. Physical examination and blood and peritoneal fluid sample collection were performed on days 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 30, and 60 of the postoperative period, and an exploratory laparoscopy was performed on day 60 to assess the effectiveness of the technique and eventual complications. There were no difficulties or significant complications during the surgical procedure, and the total average time to perform was 49.83 minutes (±10.19). In the postoperative period, there was a significant increase (P <.05) in the plasma fibrinogen concentration on days 7 and 14 compared with the preoperative moment. The total nucleated cell count in the peritoneal fluid increased (P <.05) on days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 30. After 60 days of the surgical procedure, the physical examination and laboratory data were within the normal range. Exploratory laparoscopy performed on day 60 revealed complete occlusion of the nephrosplenic space, and it was not possible to differentiate the pericardium implant from the scar tissue, not even in the histological evaluation performed on the collected samples. In two horses, omentum adhesion was observed in the region where the implant was fixed, and in two others, a synechia was observed between the implant area and mesocolon without association with clinical complications. The animals were followed up for 36 months at surgery, and no colic signs were observed along this period. It was concluded that the technique of ablation of the nephrosplenic space, using homologous pericardium preserved in 98% glycerin, fixed by polydioxanone staples by laparoscopy, was simple to perform, effective, and free of clinical complications during the period of evaluation, and its use may be indicated as a surgical option in clinical cases of horses with recurrent nephrosplenic entrapment. • Pericardium implants may be useful for promoting nephrosplenic space ablation. • Laparoscopic techniques provide minimally invasive surgery benefits. • The use of a stapler is a simplified way to perform implant fixation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]