Postoperative complications can prolong and decrease the quality of life for the patient during the recovery period and potentially long term. They are also frequently costly to manage. In some cases, due to failure to respond to treatment or cost, complications lead to decreased survival. Complications in horses occur frequently following colic surgery.1"4 Post-operative colic, ileus, adhesions, and incisional infections in up to 20-30% of all cases and much higher in certain sub-populations. Risk factors, preventative measures, and treatments for these complications have been evaluated but it is not clear if the rates of these complications are improving. Other complications following colic that have been reported with variable, but generally lower incidence, include endotoxemia/systemic inflammatory response, diarrhea, coagulopathy, thrombophlebitis, laminitis, septic peritonitis, metabolic abnormalities, hemoperitoneum, anastomotic complications, pneumonia, and sinusitis. Post-operative pneumonia3,5"7 and sinusitis6 are rarely reported in the literature with very little information on risk factors, treatment, or prognosis.
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