## Overview A pedunculated lipoma is a benign fatty tumor on a stalk in the mesentery. In older horses the stalk can wrap around a loop of small intestine, strangulating it. This is one of the most common causes of surgical small-intestinal colic in horses over 15 years. Signs are acute severe colic, reflux, and distended small intestine on ultrasound. Surgery is the only treatment. ## Causes Mesenteric lipoma with a long pedicle. ## Diagnosis Signalment (older horse), severe colic, reflux, and ultrasound. Confirmed at surgery. ## Treatment Surgical removal of the lipoma and resection of any compromised intestine. ## Recovery and Prognosis Fair. Short-term survival rates of roughly 50 to 80 percent are reported, better with early surgery. ## Prevention None.
acute severe colic; nasogastric reflux; tachycardia; absent gut sounds; distended small-intestinal loops on ultrasound
## Overview A pedunculated lipoma is a benign fatty tumor on a stalk in the mesentery. In older horses the stalk can wrap around a loop of small intestine, strangulating it. This is one of the most common causes of surgical small-intestinal colic in horses over 15 years. Signs are acute severe colic, reflux, and distended small intestine on ultrasound. Surgery is the only treatment. ## Causes Mesenteric lipoma with a long pedicle. ## Diagnosis Signalment (older horse), severe colic, reflux, and ultrasound. Confirmed at surgery. ## Treatment Surgical removal of the lipoma and resection of any compromised intestine. ## Recovery and Prognosis Fair. Short-term survival rates of roughly 50 to 80 percent are reported, better with early surgery. ## Prevention None.
acute severe colic; nasogastric reflux; tachycardia; absent gut sounds; distended small-intestinal loops on ultrasound