Colic in Ophthalmic and Orthopedic Patients Compared

In the researchers’ clinic colic incidence among each group of patients was not significantly different.
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While colic is often a problem on its own, it can also be a life-threatening complication of surgery, hospitalization, and a host of other issues. So when a group of researchers read a study indicating ophthalmic patients appear to be at a higher risk of colic due to chronic pain, long-term hospitalization, atropine use, and frequent sedation, they decided to evaluate the incidence of colic in ophthalmic patients versus orthopedic patients in their own hospital.

Nicole Scherrer, DVM, presented her team’s findings at the 2014 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 6-10 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Scherrer is an ophthalmology resident at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s New Bolton Center.

According to the literature, risk factors for colic include diet change, stall rest, sedation, general anesthesia, and other disease, Scherrer said. It has a prevalence of 3.5 to 10.6% in the general horse population, 1.5 to 3.6% in patients that undergo general anesthesia for MRI, and 2.8 to 7.1% in patients that undergo nonabdominal surgery.

Scherrer said results from a recent study suggested that 21.4% of hospitalized ocular patients developed colic, and factors associated with colic development included age (young and old horses were more likely to colic than mature horses) and hospitalization time (the longer the duration, the higher the risk). So she and colleagues undertook a retrospective study to determine the incidence of colic in ophthalmic patients admitted to the New Bolton Center during the 2011 to 2012 academic year

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Erica Larson, former news editor for The Horse, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.

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