Evaluation of neutrophil apoptosis in horses with acute abdominal disease.

Objective: To quantify peripheral blood neutrophil apoptosis in equine patients with acute abdominal disease (ie, colic) caused by strangulating or nonstrangulating intestinal lesions and compare these values with values for horses undergoing elective arthroscopic surgery.

Animals: 20 client-owned adult horses.

Procedures: Peripheral blood was collected from horses immediately prior to and 24 hours after surgery for treatment of colic (n = 10) or elective arthroscopic surgery (10), and neutrophils were counted.

Comparison of survival rates for geriatric horses versus nongeriatric horses following exploratory celiotomy for colic.

Objective: To determine how survival rates in geriatric horses (>or= 20 years old) undergoing abdominal exploratory surgery for colic compare with survival rates for younger (nongeriatric) horses.

Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Animals: 56 geriatric horses and 487 nongeriatric horses undergoing exploratory celiotomy for colic.