Reducing and managing post operative complicationsc

The most notable post operative complications of colic surgery are systemic shock, post operative ileus (POI), and intra-abdominal adhesions. The duration of colic, and the subsequent duration of colic surgery, directly relate to the degree to which post operative complications take place. This is because the fundamental cause of complications is the level of intestinal injury, generated by the duration of the inciting lesion (e.g. strangulation) and the level of surgical trauma. Veterinarians play an important role in early referral of patients requiring colic surgery, but complications persist because of difficulties detecting severe colic at its onset. Therefore, therapies have to be put into place to offset complications to the greatest degree possible. The most important of these therapies is arguably i.v. fluids, but treatments directly at ileus and adhesions are also available, although their efficacy is debated. In addition, the cost-to-benefit ratio of post operative therapy should be carefully considered because of the increasing frequency of limited owner finances in many practices. […]