Clinical indications, complications, and long-term outcome of esophageal surgeries in 27 horses.

Abstract

The main objective of this retrospective study was to describe clinical findings, management, and short- and long-term outcome in 27 horses that underwent various surgical techniques for esophageal disease. Surgical techniques (sometimes concurrently) performed were: esophagostomy (= 14), esophagotomy with primary closure (= 6), esophagomyotomy (= 3), and esophagoplasty (= 2). Esophageal perforation in 5 horses was treated by ventral drainage; 3 horses had the esophageal defect sutured (= 3). Feeding tubes were placed in 15 horses. Postoperative complications occurred in 52% (14/27) with a median of 3 complications/horse (range: 1 to 7). Significantly more complications occurred in horses with a perforated esophagus. Eighteen horses (18/27; 67%) were discharged. Most horses (8/9; 89%) with a lesion located in the proximal esophagus were discharged. Horses with a higher number of postoperative complications, particularly postoperative infection, were more likely to be euthanized. One year after surgery, 41% of the horses were alive and free of complications.