Indicators of ‘critical’ outcomes in 941 horses seen ‘out-of-hours’ for colic

• Published in: Veterinary record 2020-12, Vol.187 (12), p.492-492
• Main Authors: Bowden, Adelle, England, Gary C W, Brennan, Marnie Louise, Mair, Tim S, Furness, Wendy A, Freeman, Sarah L, Burford, John H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abdomen; abdominal; Abdominal Pain - diagnosis; Abdominal Pain - mortality; Abdominal Pain - therapy; Abdominal Pain - veterinary; Age Factors; Animals; colic; Colic - diagnosis; Colic - mortality; Colic - therapy; Colic - veterinary; Data collection; Euthanasia, Animal - statistics & numerical data; Female; Heart Rate; Horse Diseases - diagnosis; Horse Diseases - therapy; Horses; Male; Medical referrals; Medical treatment; Mucous Membrane; out of hours; Pain; Population; Retrospective Studies; Surgeons; Treatment Outcome; Veterinary medicine; Working hours
• ISSN: 0042-4900; 2042-7670
• DOI: 10.1136/vr.105881

BackgroundThis study aimed to describe the presentation and outcomes of horses with signs of colic (abdominal pain) seen ‘out-of-hours’ in equine practice.MethodsThis was a retrospective study of horses seen ‘out-of-hours’ with colic by two equine veterinary practices between 2011 and 2013. Case outcomes were categorised as ‘critical’ or ‘not critical’. A critical outcome was defined as requiring medical or surgical hospital treatment, or resulting in euthanasia or death. A non-critical outcome was defined as resolving with simple medical treatment. A hierarchical generalised linear model was used to identify ‘red flag’ parameters (aspects of signalment, history and presenting clinical signs) associated with critical outcomes.ResultsData were retrieved from 941 cases that presented with colic; 23.9 per cent (n=225/941) were critical. Variables significantly associated with the likelihood of a critical outcome in the final multivariable model were increased heart rate (P