New research shows that a minimally invasive surgical technique developed at the University of Pennsylvania College of Veterinary Medicine's New Bolton Center can help prevent the recurrence of colic caused by entrapment of the large colon in horses.

The technique—a nephrosplenic space ablation—is performed routinely at New Bolton Center on horses suffering from entrapment of the colon in the nephrosplenic space. A new examination of cases over the past eight years shows that those horses did not have a recurrence of the condition, indicating that this laparoscopic minimally invasive approach is effective.

“The research shows us that the surgery was successful in that none of the horses have had a repeat of the entrapment, and no complications from the surgery,” said Eric Parente, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, professor of surgery at New Bolton Center.

However, he cautioned that the surgical technique does not prevent all types of colic: “Some of the horses had later colic episodes, because although the ablation prevents the entrapment, it doesn’t prevent all forms of colic,” Parente said