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Diaphragmatic hernia in horses: 44 cases (1986-2006).
Abstract: To present a case series of horses diagnosed with diaphragmatic hernia, and to determine the significance of (1) historical information, examination findings, and laboratory data; and (2) exploratory laparotomy or necropsy findings on short- and long-term outcome. Methods: University Referral Hospital. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Forty-four horses/foals admitted between 1986 and 2006 with a diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernia made either at exploratory laparotomy or necropsy. Methods: None. Results: Information from the medical records included history, clinical examination findings at presentation, and findings of exploratory laparotomy or necropsy. Logistic regression or the Fisher exact test was used to determine factors associated with survival. Outcome was defined as survival to discharge (short-term survival), and long-term survival was defined as horses alive at least 1-year post surgery. Of the 44 horses, 18 died or were euthanized before surgery. Twenty-six were taken to surgery, 17 were euthanized. Nine horses recovered from anesthesia, 7 of which survived to hospital discharge. Of these, 5 were alive at long-term follow-up. Survival was significantly associated with the age of the horse (≤2 y old) at presentation, presence of normal peritoneal fluid at presentation, amount of compromised viscera at surgery (<50% small intestine), and the size (<10 cm) and location (ventral) of the diaphragmatic tear. Conclusions: This study confirms that size and location of the lesion do play a significant role in prognosis. And, although the prognosis for horses with diaphragmatic hernia is poor, if horses have operable lesions there is a fair prognosis for long-term survival.
© Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2009.
Publication Date: 2009-07-28 PubMed ID: 25164635DOI: 10.1111/j.1476-4431.2009.00439.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research presents a retrospective study of 44 horses diagnosed with diaphragmatic hernia, with the aim of identifying significant factors influencing short- and long-term outcomes. The results show an association of prognosis with factors such as age of the horse, condition of peritoneal fluid at presentation, extent of viscus compromise, size, and location of diaphragmatic tear.
Objective
The main objective of this research was to analyze a number of horses that have been diagnosed with diaphragmatic hernia. The study investigated their medical history, examination findings, laboratory data, and exploratory laparotomy or necropsy findings from the years 1986 to 2006. The aim was to identify which factors significantly influenced both short and long-term survival rates of these horses.
Methods
- The researchers engaged in this study in a university referral hospital and carried out a retrospective analysis of medical records of 44 horses diagnosed with diaphragmatic hernia.
- The records had information including the horse’s history, clinical examination findings at the time of presentation, and results from exploratory laparotomy or necropsy.
- They used logistic regression or the Fisher exact test to ascertain which factors significantly related to the survival rates of these horses.
Results
- Out of the 44 horses, 18 died or were euthanized before surgery could be conducted. Out of the 26 that reached surgery, 17 were euthanized.
- Nine horses successfully recovered from the anaesthesia, seven of which successfully made it to hospital discharge. Five of these seven horses were alive at a long-term follow-up.
- The study identified key factors that were significantly associated with survival. These included: the age of the horse (with those 2 years or younger having better outcomes), presence of normal peritoneal fluid at the time of presentation, the amount of compromised viscera at surgery (with less than 50% of the small intestine affected resulting in better prognosis), and the size (smaller than 10 cm) and location of the diaphragmatic tear.
Conclusions
- The study concluded that the size and location of the lesion did have a significant impact on prognosis.
- Even though the general prognosis for horses with diaphragmatic hernia is poor, if horses have operable lesions, they stand a fair chance for long-term survival.
Cite This Article
APA
Hart SK, Brown JA.
(2009).
Diaphragmatic hernia in horses: 44 cases (1986-2006).
J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio), 19(4), 357-362.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-4431.2009.00439.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, Kennett Square, PA 19348, andthe Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Leesburg, VA 20176.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Emergencies / veterinary
- Female
- Hernia, Diaphragmatic / mortality
- Hernia, Diaphragmatic / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / mortality
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Laparotomy / veterinary
- Male
- Retrospective Studies
- Survival Analysis
- Virginia
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Kolus CR, MacLeay JM, Hackett ES. Repair of an acquired diaphragmatic hernia with surgical mesh in a foal. Can Vet J 2017 Feb;58(2):145-148.
- Tăbăran AF, Nagy AL, Cătoi C, Morar I, Tăbăran A, Mihaiu M, Bolfa P. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia with concurrent aplasia of the pericardium in a foal. BMC Vet Res 2015 Dec 30;11:309.
- Shepard MK, Lee WL, Eggleston RB. Perianesthetic development of diaphragmatic hernia in a horse with equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). Can Vet J 2015 Jan;56(1):48-52.
- Tharwat M, Al-Sobayil F. Equine colic: A comprehensive overview of the sonographic evaluation, diagnostic criteria, and management of different categories. Open Vet J 2025 Mar;15(3):1116-1139.
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