Laparoscopic repair of a bladder rupture in a foal.
Abstract: Ruptured bladder was diagnosed in a 90-day-old Thoroughbred colt that had suffered a open, comminuted tibial fracture 2 days earlier. The bladder rupture was identified by laparoscopic examination of the abdomen and was repaired using a laparoscopic stapling instrument. This technique provided good visualization and allowed repair of the rupture with minimal intervention. Ten months after surgery, the foal was admitted to a referral surgical practice because of colic and stanguria. A urinary calculus was removed from the penile urethra by urethrotomy. Laparoscopic repair of the bladder with nonabsorbable staples may be contraindicated because of possible urolith formation.
Publication Date: 1995-01-01 PubMed ID: 7701772DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950x.1995.tb01294.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.
- Case Reports
- Journal Article
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.
This research presents a case of a young racehorse with a ruptured bladder, treated using a minimally invasive surgical technique called laparoscopic repair. However, the horse later developed a urinary calculus, leading the researchers to question the suitability of the technique used in such situations.
Background of the Study
- The study focuses on a case of a 90-day old Thoroughbred colt (young male horse) which initially had an open, comminuted tibial fracture.
- An evaluation of the horse revealed a ruptured bladder, a potentially life-threatening condition often related to blunt trauma, but also found in cases of some surgical interventions.
Method of Treatment
- The research team applied a procedure known as laparoscopic repair to treat the ruptured bladder.
- This method utilizes small incisions and specialized tools for inspection and surgery inside the abdomen, providing good visualization and minimal invasiveness compared to conventional methods of open abdominal surgery.
- The bladder rupture was located and mended using a laparoscopic stapling instrument. The staples used were non-absorbable, which means they are not broken down by the body or the incision itself.
Post-operative Complications and Observations
- The horse was re-admitted to surgical care ten months post-surgery due to colic and difficulty urinating.
- Examination led to the diagnosis of a urinary calculus (a stone) in the urethra, which was subsequently removed via urethrotomy (a surgical incision into the urethra).
- The researchers postulate that the non-absorbable staples used in the laparoscopic repair may have contributed to the development of the urinary calculus.
Conclusions and Further Research
- The paper raises doubts about the use of laparoscopic repair with non-absorbable staples to treat ruptured bladders in horses, due to the potential risk of urinary calculi formation.
- Future studies need to evaluate different types of sutures or surgical techniques which could evade this complication.
Cite This Article
APA
Edwards RB, Ducharme NG, Hackett RP.
(1995).
Laparoscopic repair of a bladder rupture in a foal.
Vet Surg, 24(1), 60-63.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950x.1995.tb01294.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Laparoscopy / veterinary
- Male
- Rupture / surgery
- Rupture / veterinary
- Urinary Bladder / injuries
- Urinary Bladder / surgery
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Hendrickson DA. A review of equine laparoscopy. ISRN Vet Sci 2012;2012:492650.
- Saitua A, Sanchez de Medina A, Bulnes F, Buzon A, Miraz R, Argüelles D, Diez de Castro E. Urogenital surgery in foals. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1520491.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
