Changes

*'''[[Colic, Medical Treatment|Medical treatment]]:''' if anatomical obstructions have been ruled out, '''prokinetic agents''' such as '''metoclopramide''' or '''bethanecol''' may prove useful to restore gastric motility, especially in the presence of post-operative ileus.  Unfortunately metaclopramide causes neurological side effects and bethanecol produces dose-related gastrointestinal problems including colic, diarrhoea and salivation.<ref>Murray, M.J (1990) Gastric ulceration.  In: Smith, B.P, '''Large Animal Internal Medicine''', ''CV Mosby Publishing Company'', USA, pp 648-652.  In: Proudman, C.J, Baker, S.J (1994) Satellite Article: Gastric disease in the adult horse: a clinical perspective.  ''Equine Vet Educ'', 6(4):178-184.</ref>  '''Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)''' such as '''flunixin meglumine''' and '''phenylbutazone''' may also be beneficial in post operative ileus to help combat the effects of endotoxin.  It is crucial that '''gastric decompression''' is maintained in cases of delayed gastric emptying.  This can be achieved with an indwelling nasogastric tube, (although prolonged intubation carries its own risk) or by repeated intubation.  '''IV fluid therapy''' should be given to ensure adequate hydration.<ref name="Proudman">Proudman, C.J, Baker, S.J (1994) Satellite Article: Gastric disease in the adult horse: a clinical perspective.  ''Equine Vet Educ'', 6(4):178-184.</ref>

*'''[[Colic, Medical Treatment|Medical treatment]]:''' if anatomical obstructions have been ruled out, '''prokinetic agents''' such as '''metoclopramide''' or '''bethanecol''' may prove useful to restore gastric motility, especially in the presence of post-operative ileus.  Unfortunately metaclopramide causes neurological side effects and bethanecol produces dose-related gastrointestinal problems including colic, diarrhoea and salivation.<ref>Murray, M.J (1990) Gastric ulceration.  In: Smith, B.P, '''Large Animal Internal Medicine''', ''CV Mosby Publishing Company'', USA, pp 648-652.  In: Proudman, C.J, Baker, S.J (1994) Satellite Article: Gastric disease in the adult horse: a clinical perspective.  ''Equine Vet Educ'', 6(4):178-184.</ref>  '''Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)''' such as '''flunixin meglumine''' and '''phenylbutazone''' may also be beneficial in post operative ileus to help combat the effects of endotoxin.  It is crucial that '''gastric decompression''' is maintained in cases of delayed gastric emptying.  This can be achieved with an indwelling nasogastric tube, (although prolonged intubation carries its own risk) or by repeated intubation.  '''IV fluid therapy''' should be given to ensure adequate hydration.<ref name="Proudman">Proudman, C.J, Baker, S.J (1994) Satellite Article: Gastric disease in the adult horse: a clinical perspective.  ''Equine Vet Educ'', 6(4):178-184.</ref>

*'''Surgical treatment''': the surgical options for managing gastric disease are limited since the equine stomach is diffcult to access surgically.  Extending the midline laparotomy incision cranially may improve access slightly but also increases the risk of post operative wound problems.<ref name="Proudman">Proudman, C.J, Baker, S.J (1994) Satellite Article: Gastric disease in the adult horse: a clinical perspective.  ''Equine Vet Educ'', 6(4):178-184.</ref>  Gastrotomy and removal of impacted food material has been reported<ref>Clayton-Jones, D.G, Greatorex, J.C, Stockman, M.J.R, Harris, C.P.J (1972) Gastric impaction in a pony: Relief via laparotomy.  ''Equine Vet J'', 4:98-99.  In: Proudman, C.J, Baker, S.J (1994) ''Satellite Article'': Gastric disease in the adult horse: a clinical perspective.  ''Equine Vet Educ'', 6(4):178-184.</ref>but carries a high risk of gross peritoneal contamination. Other approaches for gastric impaction are described [[Gastric Impaction - Horse|elsewhere.]]  For gastric rupture, surgical success has been reported for repairing partial thickness tears<ref>Steenhaut, M, Vlaminck, K, Gasthuys, F (1986) Surgical repair of a partial gastric rupture in a horse.  ''Equine Vet J'', 18:331-332.  In: Sanchez, L.C (2010) ''Other Disorders of the Stomach'' in Reed, S.M, Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C (2010) '''Equine Internal Medicine''' (Third Edition), ''Saunders'', Chapter 15.</ref> and also in one case of a full thickness rupture.<ref>Hogan, P.M, Bramlage, L.R, Pierce, S.W (1995) Repair of a full-thickness gastric rupture in a horse.  ''J Am Vet Med Assoc'', 207:338-340.  In: Sanchez, L.C (2010) ''Other Disorders of the Stomach'' in Reed, S.M, Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C (2010) '''Equine Internal Medicine''' (Third Edition), ''Saunders'', Chapter 15.</ref>

*'''Surgical treatment''': the surgical options for managing gastric disease are limited since the equine stomach is diffcult to access surgically.  Extending the midline laparotomy incision cranially may improve access slightly but also increases the risk of post operative wound problems.<ref name="Proudman">Proudman, C.J, Baker, S.J (1994) Satellite Article: Gastric disease in the adult horse: a clinical perspective.  ''Equine Vet Educ'', 6(4):178-184.</ref>  Gastrotomy and removal of impacted food material has been reported<ref>Clayton-Jones, D.G, Greatorex, J.C, Stockman, M.J.R, Harris, C.P.J (1972) Gastric impaction in a pony: Relief via laparotomy.  ''Equine Vet J'', 4:98-99.  In: Proudman, C.J, Baker, S.J (1994) ''Satellite Article'': Gastric disease in the adult horse: a clinical perspective.  ''Equine Vet Educ'', 6(4):178-184.</ref>but carries a high risk of gross peritoneal contamination. For gastric rupture, surgical success has been reported for repairing partial thickness tears<ref>Steenhaut, M, Vlaminck, K, Gasthuys, F (1986) Surgical repair of a partial gastric rupture in a horse.  ''Equine Vet J'', 18:331-332.  In: Sanchez, L.C (2010) ''Other Disorders of the Stomach'' in Reed, S.M, Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C (2010) '''Equine Internal Medicine''' (Third Edition), ''Saunders'', Chapter 15.</ref> and also in one case of a full thickness rupture.<ref>Hogan, P.M, Bramlage, L.R, Pierce, S.W (1995) Repair of a full-thickness gastric rupture in a horse.  ''J Am Vet Med Assoc'', 207:338-340.  In: Sanchez, L.C (2010) ''Other Disorders of the Stomach'' in Reed, S.M, Bayly, W.M. and Sellon, D.C (2010) '''Equine Internal Medicine''' (Third Edition), ''Saunders'', Chapter 15.</ref>

==Prognosis==

==Prognosis==