COST/BENEFIT OF CRITICAL CARE - IMPROVING OUTCOME

摘要

The equine acute abdomen is the most common postoperative ICU admission for the majority of equine referral practices. While survival rates for large and small intestinal colic surgery have risen over the past 3 decades, so have the costs associated with postoperative intensive care. Long-term survival rates for small intestinal resection and anastomosis have increased from approximately 24% to over 60%.1"3 Long-term survival from large colon volvulus has similarly increased from approximately 30% toover 60%.4'5 Investigators have assessed the effects of patient characteristics (e.g. age, breed, cardiovascular status, surgical lesion) and surgical technique (e.g. hand-sewn versus stapled anastomosis). However, the effect of critical care on equinepatient outcome has not been evaluated.