In this episode of the Simini Equine Surgery Podcast, we explore the soft tissue research from the February 2026 issue (Issue 2) of Veterinary Surgery, where two studies demonstrate how thoughtful surgical decision-making can improve both immediate postoperative outcomes and long-term quality of life.
One study introduces a modified stapled jejunostomy technique designed to eliminate a common mechanical weakness of traditional intestinal anastomoses, while the second provides reassuring evidence that life-saving surgery for large colon volvulus does not have to end a Thoroughbred broodmare's reproductive career.
In this episode:
✅ Freeman et al. introduced a modified stapled (MS) jejunostomy technique that creates a wide, triangular stapled stoma while eliminating the traditional oversewn blind jejunal end. Unlike conventional side-to-side stapled anastomoses, which leave a blind pouch that may serve as a lead point for impaction or intussusception, the modified technique creates a more direct flow path using a single application of a GIA-100 stapler. In an experimental study of six healthy horses, the authors demonstrated that operative time and final stoma size were comparable to traditional methods while removing an important structural risk factor. The resulting spatulated geometry may also compensate for localized loss of circular muscle fibers by improving passive intestinal flow through the anastomosis.
✅ Knudsen et al. performed a 17-year retrospective study evaluating reproductive outcomes in 29 Thoroughbred broodmares following either large colon resection (LCR) or colopexy for recurrent large colon volvulus. Despite the greater surgical complexity of LCR, mares undergoing resection achieved a 60.5% live foal rate per mare served, while the colopexy group achieved 68.2%—both comparable to the national Thoroughbred breeding average of 64.3%. Although fewer LCR mares produced foals during the first breeding season after surgery, this appeared to reflect postoperative recovery and missed breeding opportunities rather than permanent reductions in fertility. The findings support selecting the surgical procedure based entirely on tissue viability and anatomical considerations without compromising long-term reproductive expectations.
Together, these studies reinforce an important principle of equine soft tissue surgery: small technical refinements during surgery and evidence-based decision-making afterward can profoundly influence both surgical success and the patient's long-term quality of life.
🎓 Journal Articles Discussed
📚 From the February 2026 Issue (Issue 2) of Veterinary Surgery
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