Surgical treatment of persistent colic in a horse caused by an anomalous vascularized fibrous band.

This research paper documents a unique case where a horse suffering from continuous mild colic was found to have an abnormal tissue band between the liver and the large colon. This band was causing displacement of the large colon, leading to the colic symptoms. The band was surgically cut and the colon repositioned, which led to an uncomplicated recovery for the horse.

Introduction

• The study revolves around a rare case where a horse was suffering from a continuous mild bout of colic, a type of abdominal pain.
• Upon examination, it was suspected that the colic was caused by displacement of the large colon in the horse’s body.

Investigation and Diagnosis

• An exploratory celiotomy, a surgical incision into the abdominal cavity, revealed a volvulus of the large colon, a severe condition where a loop of the colon twists around itself and the mesentery that supports it, causing bowel obstruction.
• The cause of this was found to be an unusual vascularized band of tissue that was running between the visceral surface of the liver and the mesentery of the large colon. This band was situated at the level of the sternal and diaphragmatic flexures, which are the bends in the colon where the direction of the colon changes.

Treatment

• Surgeons transected, or cut, the anomalous band of tissue, which allowed them to correct the displacement of the large colon.

Outcome and Follow-up

• The horse made an uneventful recovery after the surgery, showing no complications or adverse effects.
• The study concludes that this unusual case should be considered as a potential diagnosis in horses presenting with persistent colic.