Early surgical correction particularly of strangulating intestinal lesions is important for preventing short- and long-term complications.The surgeon and surgical team should be thoroughly prepared for expected procedures to decrease surgical time andbowel manipulation. The surgeon should also anticipate any intra-operative complications.Many intra- and post-operative complications following gastrointestinal surgery can be prevented by appropriate decision making with regards to when to proceed withsurgery, sufficient preparation and planning, and appropriate peri-operative treatment. While there is a long list of potential complications from fracture during recovery from general anesthesia to septic thrombophlebitis and pneumonia to laminitis, some of the most important complications are: (1) postoperative reflux (POR) following small intestinal surgery; (2) postoperative intraperitoneal adhesions which can cause problems short- and long-term following small intestinal surgery; and (3) surgicalsite infection (SSI) which also has both short- and long-term implications. Probably the most serious intra-operative complication is peritoneal contamination with ingesta with the most common cause being colonic rupture during surgical management of animpaction. Adhesions are probably the most frequently recognized long-term complication following small intestinal surgery. Recurrent colic tends to be the most important long-term complication following correction of large colon lesions and although a relatively small proportion of horses are affected, these horses can be especially challenging to manage. Attention to client communication is always critical and requires a balance between providing the client with realistic expectations while not discouraging them from proceeding with surgery.
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