Repair of urinary bladder rupture through a urethrotomy and urethral sphincterotomy in four postpartum mares.

The research focuses on the successful surgical repair of urinary bladder rupture in postpartum mares, highlighting the clinical findings, surgical methods, and treatment outcomes.

Introduction and Methodology

• The retrospective study was conducted on four Thoroughbred broodmares that experienced urinary bladder rupture after giving birth.
• Medical records of these mares were carefully examined to gain insights regarding clinical signs, surgical techniques, medical therapy, and treatment outcomes.

Surgical Procedure

• The surgery entailed repairing the bladder rupture through a urethral incision or urethrotomy that also included a sphincterotomy. It was performed in a standing position.
• The bladder was everted, or turned inside out, into the vagina through the urethral incision.
• The bladder defect was then repaired using absorbable suture material in a simple, full-thickness, continuous pattern.
• The urethral incision was closed following similar suturing techniques.

Clinical Findings and Results

• Clinical indications of bladder rupture were depression, signs of shock, inappetence, dehydration, azotemia (high concentration of nitrogenous compounds in the blood), and serum electrolyte abnormalities.
• These signs seemed to intensify over time after the bladder rupture occurred.
• Each bladder was successfully repaired through the described surgical procedure. Meanwhile, metabolic derangements, such as chemical imbalances in body fluids, were effectively managed with supportive medical treatment.
• All mares not only survived the procedure but also successfully conceived and bore more foals, indicating that the procedure did not cause any further complications.

Conclusion

• The study concludes that bladder rupture relating to childbirth in mares can be repaired effectively using the surgical technique of bladder eversion through urethrotomy and urethral sphincterotomy.