Laparoscopic surgical technique for repair of rectal and colonic tears in horses: an experimental study.

This research aimed to assess the effectiveness of laparoscopic surgical techniques in the repair of rectal and colonic injuries in horses.

Research Methodology

• The researchers used a variety of methods and subjects in order to carry out this study. This included thirty-two segments of equine bowel placed in an equine pelvitrainer, a total of eight equine cadavers, and three live, healthy horses.
• The study was divided into three separate experiments. In the first experiment, three different laparoscopic techniques for intestinal repair were tested in the equine pelvitrainer. The techniques were suturing with needle holders, suturing with an automatic suture device, and stapling with a hernia stapler.
• In the second experiment, lacerations of the descending colon were repaired laparoscopically using the needle holders in both the pelvitrainer and the cadavers.
• In the final experiment, intentional rectal injuries were made and then sutured laparoscopically in the live horses under general anesthesia. These horses were closely monitored for a week following surgery through clinical examination as well as blood and peritoneal fluid analysis.

Research Results

• The research found that there was no significant difference in repair time or the degree of luminal narrowing across the three tested techniques. However, higher bursting pressure was observed in segments repaired by needle holders or the suture device, indicating a stronger repair.
• Both colonic and rectal lacerations were successfully sutured using laparoscopic needle holders, with no major complications experienced.
• The overall health of the experimentally injured and repaired specimens was confirmed at necropsy which revealed satisfactory healing, as indicated by high bursting strength and histological examination of the suture line.

Research Conclusions

• The researchers concluded that laparoscopic surgery, particularly with the use of needle holders, can serve as an effective method for repairing rectal lacerations in horses.
• However, the authors caution that it remains to be investigated whether this method can be applied to clinical cases of naturally-occurring rectal tears in horses.