B. Lescun, BVSc (Hons), MS, PhD, DACVS Associate Professor of Large Animal Surgery Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine West Lafayette, IN
Michael Maher, DVM, DACVS‐LA Staff Surgeon Brandon Equine Medical Center Brandon, FL
Khursheed Mama, DVM, DACVAA Professor, Anesthesiology Department of Clinical Sciences Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO
Ann Martens, DVM, PhD, DECVS Professor of Large Animal Surgery Department of Surgery and Anesthesiology of Domestic Animals Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Ghent University Merelbeke, Belgium
Margaret C. Mudge, VMD, DACVS, DACVECC Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences The Ohio State University Columbus, OH
Brad Nelson, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVS‐LA Assistant Professor, Equine Surgery Principal Investigator, Preclinical Surgical Research Laboratory Department of Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO
Thomas O’Brien, MVB, DACVS‐LA Fethard Equine Hospital, Kilknockin County Tipperary Ireland
Kyla F. Ortved, DVM, PhD, DACVS, DACVSMR Assistant Professor of Large Animal Surgery Department of Clinical Studies New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Kennett Square, PA
Lynn Pezzanite, DVM, MS, DACVS Post‐doctoral Fellow/PhD Student Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine Institute College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO
John Peroni, DVM, MS, DACVS Professor of Surgery Department of Large Animal Medicine Veterinary Medical Center University of Georgia Athens, GA
Richard J.M. Reardon, BVetMed (hons), MVM, PhD, FHEA, CertES(orth.), DECVS, DEVDC(equine), MRCVS Senior Lecturer in Equine Surgery The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies University of Edinburgh Easter Bush, Midlothian Scotland
Dean W. Richardson, DVM, DACVS Charles W. Raker Professor of Equine Surgery Chief, Large Animal Surgery New Bolton Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Kennett Square, PA
Eva Rioja Garcia, DVM, DVSc, PhD, DACVAA, DECVAA, MRCVS Clinical Director of Anaesthesia and Analgesia Optivet Referrals Havant, Hampshire United Kingdom
Fabrice Rossignol, DVM, DECVS Equine Clinic Grosbois Boissy Saint Leger France
Luis M. Rubio‐Martínez, DVM, DVSc, DACVS, DECVS, DACVSMR, MRCVS Sussex Equine Hospital, Ashington, West Sussex, United Kingdom CVet Ltd. Equine Surgery and Orthopedics, United Kingdom
Angelika Schoster, Dr.med.vet, DVSc, PhD, DVSc, DACVIM, DECEIM Clinic for Equine Medicine University of Zurich Switzerland
James Schumacher, DVM, MS, DACVS, MRCVS Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences College of Veterinary Medicine University of Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee
Donna L. Shettko, DVM, MSN, DACVS Western University of Health Sciences Pomona, CA
Ellen R. Singer, BA, DVM, DVSc, DACVS, DECVS, FRCVS Director, E Singer Equine Orthopedics and Surgery Ltd. Neston, Cheshire United Kingdom
Roger K. W. Smith, MA, VetMB, PhD, DEO, FHEA, ECVDI LAassoc, DECVSMR, DECVS, FRCVS Professor of Equine Orthopedics Department of Clinical Sciences and Services The Royal Veterinary College Hatfield, Hertfordshire United Kingdom
Louise L. Southwood, BVSc, PhD, DACVS, DACVECC Professor, Large Animal Emergency & Critical Care Department of Clinical Studies New Bolton Center School of Veterinary Medicine University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
Michael A. Spirito, DVM Davidson Surgery Center Hagyard Equine Institute Lexington, KY
Henry Stämpfli, DVM, Dr.Med.Vet., DACVIM Professor Retired Large Animal Medicine, Clinical Studies Ontario Veterinary College University of Guelph Guelph, Ontario Canada
Sara K.T. Steward, DVM Equine Surgery Resident Veterinary Teaching Hospital Department of Clinical Sciences Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO
Kenneth E. Sullins, DVM, MS, DACVS Professor of Equine Surgery College of Veterinary Medicine Midwestern University Glendale, AZ
Troy N. Trumble, DVM, PhD Associate Professor Veterinary Population Medicine Department University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine St. Paul, MN
Alexander Valverde, DVM, DVSc, DACVAA Associate Professor Department of Clinical Studies Ontario Veterinary College University of Guelph Guelph, Ontario Canada
James R. Vasey, BVSc, FANZCVSc Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital Congupna, Victoria Australia
Denis Verwilghen, DVM, MSc, PhD, DES, DECVS Associate Professor in Equine Surgery Head of the Camden Equine Centre School of Veterinary Science – Faculty of Science University of Sydney Australia
Ashlee E. Watts, DVM, PhD, DACVS Associate Professor Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences Texas A&M University College Station, TX
J. Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM Department of Pathobiology Ontario Veterinary College University of Guelph Guelph, Ontario Canada
Jacintha M. Wilmink, DVM, PhD, DRNVA WOUMAREC (Wound Management and Reconstruction in Horses) Wageningen The Netherlands
1 Surgical Complications
Luis M. Rubio‐Martinez DVM, DVSc, PhD, DACVS, DECVS, DACVSMR, MRCVS1 and Dean A. Hendrickson DVM, MS, DACVS2
1 Sussex Equine Hospital, Ashington, West Sussex, United Kingdom and CVet Ltd. Equine Surgery and Orthopedics, United Kingdom
2 College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado
Overview
The term “surgical complication” is frequently used in the medical profession, but its definition in the medical literature has been inconsistent over the years. The World Journal of Surgery defines “surgical complication” as “any undesirable, unintended, and direct results of an operation affecting the patient that would not have occurred had the operation gone as well as could reasonably be hoped” [1]. This definition suggests that a surgical complication is dependent on the surgical skill of the surgeon, the facilities and equipment available and the condition of the patient.
List of Complications Associated with Surgery:
Morbidity and mortality
Surgical checklists
Perioperative consequences of
