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The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2017; 58(8); 842-844;

Cecal entrapment within the epiploic foramen in a mare.

Abstract: An 11-year-old Thoroughbred mare with colic unresponsive to medical treatment underwent exploratory laparotomy. During surgery the cecum was found entrapped within the epiploic foramen from left to right. The entrapped cecum was reduced through the foramen by gentle traction. After reduction of the cecum, rupture of the portal vein was detected. Loss of a large amount of blood prompted euthanasia during surgery. Une jument Thoroughbred âgée de 11 ans atteinte de coliques ne répondant pas au traitement médical a subi une laparatomie exploratoire. Durant la chirurgie, le cæcum a été trouvé encapsulé dans le foramen omental de gauche à droite. Le cæcum encapsulé a été réduit par le foramen à l’aide d’une légère traction. Après la réduction du cæcum, la rupture de la veine porte a été détectée. La perte d’une grande quantité de sang a entraîné l’euthanasie durant la chirurgie.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).
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Publication Date: 2017-08-02 PubMed ID: 28761191PubMed Central: PMC5508968
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

An 11-year old Thoroughbred mare experiencing stubborn colic underwent exploratory laparotomy where it was discovered that her cecum was trapped in the epiploic foramen. However, when the entrapped cecum was freed, the portal vein ruptured causing enough blood loss to necessitate euthanasia during the operation.

Background

  • The research pertains to a medical emergency faced by an 11-year-old Thoroughbred mare that was noted to have colic, a severe digestive disorder in horses that was not responding to conventional treatments.
  • The mare had to consequently be subjected to an exploratory surgical process known as laparotomy to figure the cause of the issue.

Findings

  • During the laparotomy, it was found that the mare’s cecum, a part of the large intestine, had become entrapped within the epiploic foramen. The epiploic foramen is a slit-like opening between the liver and the lesser sac of the equine body through which blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics traverse.
  • This entrapment was causing the colic that was not responsive to medical treatments. The nature of entrapment was such that it had progressed from the left to the right side of the body.

Procedure and Complications

  • The surgical team managed to reduce the entrapped cecum through gentle traction, a procedure whereby the lodged cecum was slowly and carefully pulled out of the foramen.
  • However, post the procedure, it was noted that the portal vein had ruptured. The portal vein is a significant blood vessel responsible for carrying blood from the digestive organs to the liver. This is a grave medical complication and could potentially be life-threatening due to the resultant loss of blood.

Outcome

  • Upon detection of the portal vein’s rupture, substantial blood loss was observed. Despite being in the middle of surgery, the severity of the situation was such that the only humane decision was to euthanize the horse.
  • Therefore, despite initial success in identifying and addressing the entrapped cecum, the surgery ultimately resulted in a fatality due to unforeseen complications during the operation.

Cite This Article

APA
Grzeskowiak RM, Barrett EJ, Rodgerson DH. (2017). Cecal entrapment within the epiploic foramen in a mare. Can Vet J, 58(8), 842-844.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 58
Issue: 8
Pages: 842-844

Researcher Affiliations

Grzeskowiak, Remigiusz M
  • Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, 4250 Iron Works Pike, 40511 Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Barrett, Elizabeth J
  • Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, 4250 Iron Works Pike, 40511 Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Rodgerson, Dwayne H
  • Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, 4250 Iron Works Pike, 40511 Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cecum / pathology
  • Cecum / surgery
  • Colic / diagnosis
  • Colic / surgery
  • Colic / veterinary
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / surgery
  • Horses
  • Laparotomy / veterinary
  • Portal Vein / injuries

References

This article includes 22 references
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Citations

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