Extensive resection and anastomosis of the descending (small) colon in a mare following strangulation by a mesenteric lipoma.

The researchers report a case where a 17-year old mare suffered abdominal pain resulting from a mesenteric lipoma, a fatty tumor in the abdomen, that strangled her small colon. The tumor and damaged colon were surgically removed, with some complications following surgery, followed by post-surgery therapies to resolve the complications.

Surgical Management and Findings

• The mare, a Quarter Horse Arabian crossbreed, was presented with a two-day history of abdominal pain.
• Upon surgery, it was discovered that a mesenteric lipoma had resulted in the strangulation of 2.6 meters of the mare’s descending colon. The mesenteric lipoma is essentially a benign fatty tumor that grows on the mesentery, which is the tissue connecting the intestines to the abdominal wall. In the mare’s case, this lipoma was constricting the colon, the latter part of the digestive tract.
• The lipoma was successfully removed and since the descending colon still appeared viable, it was replaced.

Post-Operative Complications

• Despite the initially successful surgery, the mare’s condition did not stabilize post-operatively. Resultantly, the mare was returned to surgery.
• Upon re-evaluation, 2 meters of the descending colon were found to be infarcted, i.e., the tissue was dead due to a lack of blood supply.
• This portion of the mare’s descending colon was therefore removed (resected) and the remaining healthy sections were surgically joined together (anastomosed).
• Incorporation of a drain and stainless steel stay sutures into the ventral suture line were made to help facilitate healing.

Post-Operative Management

• Post-surgery, the mare encountered another complication with an infection in the ventral wound – the area in the abdomen where the operation had been performed.
• The infection was brought under control with the appropriate therapy, most likely involving antibiotics and wound care. The specific therapeutic interventions used to treat the infection are not detailed in the abstract.

Final Outcome and Discussion

• Despite the surgical and post-operative challenges, the mare was successfully treated for her condition. However, details of the post-recovery condition of the mare and any long-term effects of the surgery are not available in the abstract.
• The study concludes with a discussion on the findings of this case—specifically focusing on the diagnosis, surgical management, post-operative complications, and treatment outcomes.