Surgical management of duodenal obstruction in an adult horse.

This research article describes the surgical treatment of a 3-year-old Standardbred stallion horse, which developed a complete obstruction in the duodenum after initially being treated for acute enterocolitis. The surgery was successful with a three-tier duodenojejunostomy and jejunojejunostomy performance.

Research Context

• The 3-year-old Standardbred male horse was initially brought in for treatment due to a sudden outbreak of enterocolitis, an inflammation of the digestive tract. The symptoms of this condition improved with the help of empirical treatment.
• However, subsequent health problems arose in the stallion such as ventral edema (swelling of the underside), scrotal abscessation (pus collecting in the scrotum), and severe laminitis (a painful condition in the horse’s feet).
• Even after improvement in these conditions, the horse developed a fast heart rate and displayed signs of abdominal discomfort on the 29th day of hospitalization.

Surgical Intervention

• An exploratory celiotomy, a surgical incision into the abdomen, was carried out which revealed a complete obstruction in the descending part of the duodenum, 20 cm caudal to the duodenal sigmoidal flexure.
• This obstruction of the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine, was causing the symptoms in the horse.
• The surgical team performed a three-tier duodenojejunostomy and jejunojejunostomy to bypass this obstruction.

Significance of the Study

• The study reflects the complexities that can arise in horses from digestive issues. It emphasizes the importance of constant monitoring, since the initial treatment for enterocolitis was beneficial, but further health complications developed.
• It highlights the necessity of surgical interventions in scenarios where therapeutic approaches fail to solve health problems.
• The configuration of duodenojejunostomy and jejunojejunostomy serves as a reference for future cases of similar situations.
• Moreover, this case study underscores the importance of veterinary surgical skills and their role in equine health management.