Surgical treatment of acquired inguinal hernia in the horse: a review of 51 cases.

The research focuses on the surgical treatment of acquired inguinal hernias in stallions and presents findings from a review of 51 such cases over a seven-year period. The researchers noted a 76% success rate of these surgeries at least six months post-operation.

Surgical Treatment

The surgical treatment of 51 cases of acquired inguinal hernia in stallions was reviewed over a seven-year period. The nature of the hernias varied, with a nearly even split observed.

• In 25 cases, the herniated loop was ileal (referring to the region of the small intestine known as the ileum).
• In 26 cases, it was jejunal (relating to the middle section of the small intestine, the jejunum).

In all the cases, unilateral castration was performed as part of the treatment.

Procedure for Strangulated Cases

Cases involving strangulated hernias required additional steps. These hernias, in which the blood supply to the herniated tissue is cut off, can be life-threatening.

• The surgical procedure involved enlarging the vaginal ring by incising the peritoneum (the membrane lining the abdominal cavity) and transverse fascia (the tissue that encloses and separates muscles).
• Closure of the superficial inguinal ring was advisable to prevent subsequent hernia recurrence.

Laparotomy and Intestinal Resection

A sizable proportion of the cases required further invasive surgery.

• Laparotomy, a surgical procedure involving a large incision through the abdominal wall to gain access into the abdominal cavity, was carried out in 33 cases.
• 22 of these cases required intestinal resection, which involves removing a part of the intestine and then rejoining the remaining sections.
• In four cases, a bypass was made, effectively rerouting the pathway of digesting food.

Success Rate

From a follow-up at least six months postoperatively, the researchers found that surgery was successful in 76% of the cases treated. This indicates that the described surgical interventions can be considered relatively effective solutions for stallions presenting with acquired inguinal hernias. However, as always, the individual health status and circumstances of the horse need to be taken into account when deciding upon treatment options.