Laparoscopic Evaluation of the Epiploic Foramen after Celiotomy for Epiploic Foramen Entrapment in the Horse.

The study examines the epiploic foramen in horses that have undergone surgery for epiploic foramen entrapment using laparoscopy. The goal was to see if this area had closed on its own post-surgery. The research found that in three out of the seven horses studied, the epiploic foramen closed naturally.

Objective and Methodology

• The researchers aimed to assess the condition of the epiploic foramen using laparoscopy — a minimally invasive surgical technique — in horses that had received successful treatment for epiploic foramen entrapment, an abdominal condition in which fatty tissues or an organ in the horse’s body get trapped, creating severe pain for the animal.
• The study followed a case series format with a total of seven horses.
• Post-treatment, the horses were examined through right flank laparoscopy between 35 to 71 days after the surgery for epiploic foramen entrapment.
• The researchers collected data on various parameters such as behavior vices, surgical details, the time frame between both surgeries, and the laparoscopic appearance of the epiploic foramen.

Execution of the study

• If the epiploic foramen was found open during laparoscopy, a mesh was introduced to close it — a process known as Foramen Epiploicum Mesh Closure (FEMC).
• The horses’ clinical progress was tracked through owner interviews at one month and four months after laparoscopy, and a final interview between 135 and 282 days post-laparoscopy. During these interviews, owners were asked about any postoperative complications and the horse’s exercise level.

Results and Conclusion

• The laparoscopy revealed that three out of the seven horses — almost 43% — had complete closure of the epiploic foramen via the growth of dense fibrous tissue.
• In four horses, the epiploic foramen was still open, and FEMC was performed without any significant complications.
• Three instances of postoperative colic were recorded and all were from horses displaying windsucking or cribbing behavior, indicating there may be a correlation.
• The researchers concluded that the spontaneous closure of the epiploic foramen observed could explain the low recurrence rate reported after surgery for this condition.