Mare and foal survival and subsequent fertility of mares treated for uterine torsion

Reasons for performing study: Previous surveys have reported that mare and foal survival after correction of uterine torsion (UT) varies from 60 to 84% and from 30 to 54%, respectively. Furthermore, resolution via a standing ¿ank laparotomy (SFL) has been associated with better foal, but not mare, survival. Objectives: To compare the success of SFL with other correction methods (e.g. midline or ¿ank laparotomy under general anaesthesia; correction per vaginam). Study design: Retrospective analysis of clinical records. Methods: Data on correction technique, stage of gestation, degree of rotation, survival and subsequent fertility for 189 mares treated for UT at 3 equine referral hospitals in The Netherlands during 1987–2007 were analysed. Results: Mean stage of gestation at diagnosis was 283 days (range 153–369 days), with the majority of UTs (77.5%) occurring before Day 320 of gestation. After correction of UT, 90.5% of mares and 82.3% of foals survived to hospital discharge, between 3 and 39 days later, and to foaling. Multivariable logistic regression indicated that correction method and stage of gestation at UT affected survival of foals and mares. For foals, survival was 88.7% after SFL compared with 35.0% after other methods (P = 0.001). When UT occurred a