Marsupialization of an abdominal abscess caused by Serratia marcescens in a mare.

The research paper discusses a successful surgical intervention on a 7-year-old mare which had an intra-abdominal abscess caused by Serratia marcescens, a bacterium.

The Abdominal Abscess

• The research started with a diagnosis of an intra-abdominal abscess on a mare. It was identified through physical palpation or feeling per rectum, as well as noticeable clinical abnormalities that suggested a health problem in the mare.
• Despite initiating treatment with procaine penicillin for 21 days, there was no improvement in the mare’s condition, indicating that the treatment was ineffective against this particular disease.

Surgical Exploration and Marsupialization

• The condition of the mare reached a stage where surgical exploration of the abdomen was warranted, demonstrating the severe extent of the abscess.
• During surgery, a mass was identified in the wall of the mare’s left ventral colon, which was likely the abscess in question.
• The approach used to treat this abscess was marsupialization, a surgical technique commonly used in vets to drain abscesses. This treatment involves creating a direct connection between the abscess and the skin surface or closest organ, allowing the pus to continually drain.

Results and Recovery

• The bacterium Serratia marcescens was isolated from the abscess. This bacterium is typically found in water and soil and would have contributed to the deterioration of the mare’s physical state.
• The mare’s recovery appeared to be complete following the procedure, evidencing the success of the marsupialization procedure in this case study.
• The mare was able to resume her broodmare capability, suggesting that not only was the abscess effectively managed, but the overall recovery did not impede the mare’s reproductive ability.