Recurrence of renosplenic entrapment after renosplenic space ablation in a seven-year-old stallion.

This research article discusses the reoccurrence of renosplenic entrapment in a seven-year-old stallion, despite previous surgical intervention to close the renosplenic space.

Case Description

• The study focuses on a 7-year-old mixed-breed stallion that was admitted for colic.
• The horse was diagnosed with renosplenic entrapment, a condition where the left colon gets trapped in the space between the kidney and spleen, following rectal palpation and ultrasonographic examination.
• The renosplenic entrapment was detected despite previous surgery for renosplenic space ablation (removal of the space between the kidney and spleen) that was performed 6.5 years earlier.

Treatment and Result

• The renosplenic entrapment was treated by administering phenylephrine, rolling the horse, and ballottement (applying firm downward pressure with brief upward jerks) on the horse’s abdomen under general anesthesia.
• Left flank laparoscopic renosplenic space ablation was performed with the horse standing a week later.
• On examination, it was found that only 4 bands of fibrous adhesion remained from the original space ablation procedure.
• The renosplenic space was again closed by suturing the perirenal fascia (fibrous tissue surrounding the kidney) and renosplenic ligament to the splenic capsule (the protective outer covering of the spleen).
• After surgery, the horse was allowed to recover at home after discharge from the hospital, and no complications or recurrence of entrapment were reported.

Conclusions

• A key finding from this article is that recurrence of renosplenic entrapment following procedures to ablate (remove) the renosplenic space is uncommon and previously unreported.
• The article suggests that the recurrence of entrapment in this case could be due to the horse’s young age at the time of the initial surgery or possibly due to inadequate size or spacing of the sutures through the perirenal fascia and splenic capsule.