Occurrence of Incisional Complications and Associated Risk Factors Using a Right Ventral Paramedian Celiotomy Incision in 159 Horses

Objective To evaluate the occurrence of, and variables associated with, incisional complications after right ventral paramedian celiotomy in horses. Study Design Case series. Animals Horses (n=159). Methods Occurrence of incisional complications after right ventral paramedian celiotomy was determined in 159 horses (161 celiotomies) that survived at least 30 days after surgery at a private equine hospital (2003-2007). Follow-up information for 121 horses was obtained >= 90 days after surgery. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression was performed to evaluate variables associated with incisional complications after celiotomy. Results Of 161 celiotomies, >= 1 incisional complications occurred in 27 (16.8%) during hospitalization and/or after discharge, including: drainage (15.5%), skin dehiscence (3.7%), noticeable cutaneous scarring (1.9%), and herniation (0.6%). Variables significantly associated with incisional complications after multivariate analysis included: Quarter horse-type breed (odds ratio [OR]: 3.9, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.3-11.7); use of an abdominal bandage (OR: 9.5, 95% CI: 2.9-30.8); and > 4 postoperative febrile (> 38.3 degrees C) days (OR: 12.9, 95% CI: 2.8-58.2). Conclusions Overall occurrence of incisional complications after right paramedian ventral celiotomy compared favorably to those reported for ventral median celiotomies. Several variables were associated with, but not necessarily predictive for, the occurrence of incision complications.