Dystocia in a referral hospital setting: approach and results

Summary Reasons for performing study: Dystocia in the mare is an emergency in which duration has a profound effect on survival of the foal. Specific examination of the effects of dystocia duration on foal survival provides information to enable horse care personnel and veterinarians to manage these cases more effectively and maximise the chances of obtaining a live foal. Hypothesis: Dystocia duration would have a negative impact on foal survival while method of dystocia resolution would not have an effect on foal survival. Additionally, we were interested in determining the effects of dystocia on subsequent fertility. Methods and results: In the years 1986–1999, 247 dystocias were admitted. Of these, 91% resulted in survival and discharge of the mare, 42% in delivery of a live foal, and 29% of foals survived to discharge. Period from hospital arrival to delivery for foals alive at discharge (23.0 ± 14.1 mins) was not significantly different than for foals not surviving (24.8 ± 10.6 mins) (P>0.05); and from chorioallantoic rupture to delivery for foals alive at discharge (71.7 ± 34.3 mins) was significantly less than for foals not surviving (85.3 ± 37.4 mins) (P