Repair of a full-thickness gastric rupture in a horse.

This study reports on a successful surgical repair of a severe stomach rupture in a horse. Apart from the rupture, the horse also had a partial twisting in its intestine that was resolved during the operation. Despite a medical complication ten days post-operatively, the horse fully recovered, with no signs of abdominal disease recurrence or problems in birthing after two years.

Case Details and Surgical Procedure

• The subject of the study was a 14-year-old Thoroughbred broodmare that was suffering from mild to moderate abdominal pain for five hours.
• Through an exploratory operation (celiotomy), surgeons discovered a large hematoma, a form of internal blood clot, on the surface (serosal layer) of the horse’s stomach. Furthermore, a hole (serosal perforation) was found that resulted from stomach muscle tearing.
• The horse’s small intestine was partially twisted (a condition known as volvulus), and the surgeons also observed that removing the large intestine seemed to have caused the serosal perforation to develop into a full-thickness rupture of the gastric lining.
• Surgeons repaired the full-thickness gastric rupture using a technique known as two-layer inverting closure, where the edges of the wound are folded inward and sutured, similar to creating a double seam.

Postoperative Follow Up and Recovery

• Although the horse experienced a gastrointestinal haemorrhage ten days after the surgery, immediate treatment was effective.
• Over a two-year follow-up period, the horse was in good health, having given birth and not showing any recurrence of the abdominal problem it previously had.

Significance of the Research Article

• This case report demonstrates the successful surgical repair of a serious and potentially life-threatening gastrointestinal condition in a horse.
• It adds to the medical literature, showcasing the utility of a two-layer inverting closure in repairing stomach ruptures, and how immediate surgical intervention can effectively resolve a partial volvulus of the intestine.
• The successful recovery, including reproduction with no recurrence of abdominal issues, suggests the long-term effectiveness of the proposed surgical methods and follow-up treatments.