A systematic review of the prevalence of post-operative complications after general anaesthesia in adult horses (2000-2023)

• Published in: Equine veterinary journal 2024-10
• Main Authors: Loomes, Kate, de Grauw, Janny, Gozalo-Marcilla, Miguel, Redondo, José I, Bettschart-Wolfensberger, Regula
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0425-1644; 2042-3306; 2042-3306
• DOI: 10.1111/evj.14416

Equine post-operative morbidity represents a significant concern for both veterinary surgeons and horse owners. To estimate the prevalence of post-operative complications in horses after elective/non-abdominal surgery or colic surgery. Systematic review. A database search identified eligible studies which reported the prevalence of equine post-operative complications published as a full paper in English in a peer-reviewed journal between 2000 and 2023. Studies were evaluated using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Prevalence Studies and GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations) framework. Data for the most commonly reported complications were analysed using Chi-squared analysis of weighted means to answer 13 PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparator and Outcomes) questions. Sixty-seven studies met inclusion criteria. Data for eight post-operative morbidities (colic, surgical site complications, myopathy/neuropathy, laminitis, diarrhoea/colitis, fever/pyrexia, jugular thrombophlebitis/thrombosis, respiratory complications) were sufficient to allow statistical analyses. The weighted mean of the overall proportion of post-operative complications after elective/non-abdominal surgery is 17.48% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 13.20-22.92), significantly increasing to 55.62% (95% CI: 45.79-65.03) after colic surgery (odds ratio [OR] 6.63; 95% CI: 5.83-7.56; p