Effect of a ventral midline colopexy on large colon volvulus recurrence and days to next live foal in Thoroughbred broodmares

OBJECTIVE: To report the impact of ventral midline colopexy on colic, recurrence of large colon volvulus (LCV) and time to next live foal. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case control study. ANIMALS: A total of 188 Thoroughbred broodmares surgically treated for LCV (2016-2020). METHODS: Horses treated for LCV were grouped based on whether they received a colopexy (CP) or did not (NCP). All broodmares that underwent a second LCV surgery were subsequently categorized into two groups: those that received a colopexy (RCP) and those that did not (NRCP). Differences in the number of horses with large colon compromise, postoperative complications, days until discharge, survival, re-presentation for colic, LCV recurrence and days to next live foal were compared between the CP and NCP groups and between the RCP and NRCP groups. RESULTS: The OR for re-presenting for colic when a colopexy was not performed was 3.13 (95% CI: 1.03-9.48, p-value .046) and 9.74 (95% CI: 1.28-74.90, p-value .0054) for recurrent LCV compared to when a colopexy was performed at the initial surgery. At the subsequent surgery, the OR for re-presentation for colic when a colopexy was not performed was 7.0 (95% CI: 1.23-39.78, p-value .034) and 14.0 (95% CI: 1.52-129.22, p-value .009) for recurrent LCV. Days to next live foal was not significantly different between groups. CONCLUSION: Ventral midline colopexy reduced the risk of repeat LCV and colic with no effect on foaling. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: These results support the use of the ventral midline colopexy in broodmares. Further research is needed on effects on foaling.