Strangulated umbilical hernias in horses: 13 cases (1974-1985).

The research paper reviews the medical records of 13 horses who were treated for strangulated umbilical hernias. The treatment involved surgery and post-discharge follow-ups revealed complications in some horses.

Overview and Objective

The research article is a retrospective study reviewing the medical records of horses that had strangulated umbilical hernias, with a goal of understanding the typical history, symptoms, surgery performed, and outcomes in these cases. The duration of cases under study extends from 1974 to 1985.

Materials and Methods

• Thirteen horses that had developed strangulated umbilical hernias were included in the study.
• The medical records of these horses were examined for information about their history, symptoms, the type of surgery performed, and post-surgery outcomes.
• Specifically, the researchers were looking at whether the horses showed signs of abdominal pain, if fistulas developed, what tissues were incarcerated in the hernia, and if there were any complications post-surgery.

Results and Outcomes

• Common findings in the history of these cases were an increase in swelling, warmth, and firmness of the hernial sac.
• Enterocutaneous fistulas, abnormal connections between the intestine and skin, had developed in two cases.
• Four horses exhibited signs of abdominal pain.
• The hernia was surgically treated in all cases, by using an open reduction technique.
• The tissue trapped in the hernia included the omentum (in one horse), jejunum (in five horses), ileum (in four horses), the cecum (in one horse), and ventral colon (in two horses).
• All the horses survived the surgery and were discharged.
• However, out of the nine horses that could be followed-up (five to 52 months after discharge), complications arose in three cases. These involved persistent drainage from the surgical incision (one horse), a second surgery because of abdominal pain (one foal), and euthanization due to laminitis, a painful foot condition (one horse). One foal was euthanized during the second surgery because of severe peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal lining) due to leakage at the surgical join.