Successful pregnancy after partial hysterectomy in two mares.

The research article discusses two cases where Thoroughbred mares, previously infertile due to uterine masses, were able to successfully conceive and give birth following partial hysterectomy surgeries.

Background

• The study focuses on two Thoroughbred mares who had been unable to conceive for two years despite regular breeding attempts.
• Both mares had previously given birth to live foals, suggesting the infertility was acquired and not inherent.
• Upon examination, they found a leiomyoma (a type of benign tumor) in one mare and an ovarian abscess in the other. These uterine masses were seen as the likely causes of the infertility.

Surgical Intervention

• A right ventral paramedian incision was used in both surgeries to access and remove the uterine masses.
• In the mare with the leiomyoma, around 30% of one uterine horn was also removed because the tumor had attached to it.
• In the case of the mare with the ovarian abscess, about 50% of one uterine horn was excised due to it adhering to the abscess.

Post-surgery Results

• The study followed up on both mares for three years post-surgery.
• Both mares were able to get pregnant following their surgeries, and each successfully gave birth to two healthy foals in the follow-up period.
• At the time of the study’s conclusion, each mare was pregnant with a third foal, indicating continued fertility post-surgery.

Conclusion

• The research indicates that partial hysterectomy can be a successful intervention in treating infertility caused by uterine masses in mares.
• It shows that even if a significant portion of a mare’s uterine horn is removed, fertility and successful pregnancies can still be achieved.