What Causes Large Colon Volvulus In Horses?

On brood mare farms, colonic volvulus most commonly occurs about 90 days after foaling, but the cause of the condition is unknown. Horses with colonic volvulus require surgery to correct the problem and remove ischemic colon if necessary.

What causes volvulus in horses?

Internal Incarceration Associated with Colic in Horses
Problems develop when a segment of small intestine passes through the mesenteric defect, and the intestine becomes incarcerated. Because the intestine distends with fluid and blood, volvulus of the affected segment frequently occurs.

What is the most common cause of volvulus?

Risk factors for volvulus include intestinal malrotation, Hirschsprung disease, an enlarged colon, pregnancy, and abdominal adhesions. A higher incidence of volvulus is also noticed among hospitalized patients with neuropsychiatric disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, etc.

What is large colon volvulus in horses?

Large colon volvulus is an acute, severe abdominal crisis in the horse. Large colon volvulus accounts for 10–20% of horses presented for colic that undergo exploratory laparotomy. Reported short-term survival rates for horses with large colon volvulus vary markedly, with reported ranges of 35–86% [1–9].

What causes colon torsion in horses?

Twisting of the colon may be initiated by presence of impacted material or excessive intraluminal gas, or newly created space in the abdomen (such as the case post-foaling). Torsion may occur in either hypomotile or hypermotile states. Torsion may be clockwise (more common) or anticlockwise.

How do you prevent volvulus?

There are no current guidelines to prevent volvulus.

Does volvulus happen suddenly?

Colon volvulus usually occurs suddenly. The area above the twist continues to work and fills with food, fluid and gas. However, below the twist, blood-starved tissue can die or tear, creating a life-threatening medical emergency.

Can volvulus go away by itself?

A volvulus needs prompt treatment and usually requires surgery. During surgery to correct a volvulus, a doctor will make a small incision in the abdominal wall near the site of the twisted part of the intestine and untwist it.

Can volvulus be prevented?

volvulus. The best prevention efforts include personal protection measures against biting insects. This includes wearing insect repellant such as N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) on exposed skin, wearing long sleeves and long pants during the day when blackflies bite, and wearing permethrin- treated clothing.

Can a volvulus be fatal?

If the blood supply is cut off for a prolonged period, some or all of the intestine may die, which can be fatal. Volvulus is therefore an emergency that requires immediate surgical treatment.

At what age does volvulus occur?

A volvulus is a medical condition where the intestines twist upon themselves. This condition can occur at any age. However, it is more frequent in children and infants[1].

How do you prevent a twisted gut in horses?

Reduce the risk of large colon torsion by:
Providing regular, quality dental care. Avoiding feeding sugar beet. Minimising the number of horses on a premises, or managing horses in smaller groups. Avoiding sudden changes in the amount of hay or haylage a horse is fed.

How does a volvulus form?

Volvulus occurs when the intestine twists around itself and the mesentery that supports it, creating an obstruction. The area of intestine above the obstruction continues to function and fills with food, fluid, and gas.

What is the difference between torsion and volvulus?

Intestinal torsion describes the twisting of the bowel on its longitudinal axis, causing luminal obstruction, whilst intestinal volvulus describes a rotation about the mesenteric axis. Both may occur concurrently.

How do you know if a horse has a twisted gut?

The pain often originates from the intestine but it can come from other abdominal organs such as the liver or ovaries. Typical signs are pawing with front legs, kicking up with back legs, turning to look at the flanks, lying down, rolling, and sweating.

Why is volvulus fatal?

A volvulus is considered a life-threatening problem, because the intestine can die when it is twisted and does not have adequate blood supply. Children may be started on IV (intravenous) fluids to prevent dehydration and antibiotics to prevent infection.

Where does volvulus occur most often?

It occurs most frequently in Africa, the Middle East, and India. Rates of volvulus in the United States are about 2–3 per 100,000 people per year. Sigmoid and cecal volvulus typically occurs between the ages of 30 and 70.

How do you treat volvulus?

Doctors treat cecal volvulus with surgery. Most often, doctors will remove the affected part of the cecum and colon. In some cases, doctors may perform surgery to untwist the volvulus and attach the cecum to the wall of the abdomen to hold it in place.

What is the most common site of volvulus?

The most common sites of volvulus are the sigmoid colon and cecum [1-4]. Volvulus of other portions of the alimentary tract, such as the stomach, gallbladder, small bowel, splenic flexure, and transverse colon, are rare.

Can stress cause twisted bowel?

Psychological stress is known to cause bowel dysfunction. Psychological stress-associated gastrointestinal symptoms include, but are not limited to nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and alteration in bowel habits [1].

How does constipation cause volvulus?

In rare cases, volvulus may develop in the transverse colon or the splenic flexure. Sigmoid volvulus may occur because of sigmoid elongation, resulting in a redundant loop. Most commonly, this is the result of chronic constipation and the progressive dilatation and lengthening of the sigmoid colon and its mesentery.