In horses, frequent complications after colic surgery include the development of postoperative ileus or adhesion formation. Aetiologies discussed in animal models and human medicine includes an inflammatory response of the intestine to mechanical manipulation. Aim of this study was the characterisation of a possible inflammatory reaction in the equine jejunum and colon after intestinal manipulations as they may occur during colic surgery. The most obvious inflammatory response involved the neutrophilic granulocytes after manual emptying of the bowel, serosal, and mucosal irritation and was seen in the serosa. The eosinophilic response involved an increased accumulation and redistribution of the mucosa in the colon. Additionally, jejunal manipulations resulted in an increased eosinophilic infiltration of the colonic mucosa. The clinical effects of the observed reactions remains unclear at the moment but should be kept in mind when manipulating the equine intestine.
