Use of a new device for inversion of the necrotic ileal stump in the caecum in four horses.
- Case Reports
Summary
The study investigates the use of a custom-made device in performing an elective inversion of necrotic ileal stumps in horses during jejunocaecal anastomosis, a technique that effectively mitigated complications associated with leaving a necrotic stump post-surgery in four clinical cases.
Objective and Methodology of the Research
The study aimed to introduce a newly created device to perform an inversion of necrotic ileal stumps during jejunocaecal anastomosis in horses.
- This was motivated by the understanding that leaving a necrotic ileal stump has been linked to post-surgical complications and poor performance outcomes.
- A device was fashioned for each case by securing a 0.7m stretch of hemp tape to a 0.5m long electrical cable puller.
- The device was introduced into the ileum and navigated through the caecum. Sutures or staples were used to close the ileal lumen while the tape was anchored to the intestine. Subsequently, the ileum was resected.
- A minor typhlotomy was carried out at the would-be site for jejunocaecal anastomosis. The device was then salvaged, the hemp tape cut, and jejunocaecal anastomosis completed.
- The process and outcome of the study were collated from the medical records of the four horses that had intestinal resection and anastomosis with elective inversion of the ileal stump.
Findings and Conclusion
The custom-made device was found to be effective in the elective inversion procedure, given:
- The device was easily attached to the intestines, and small incisions were sufficient for its insertion and removal.
- Out of the four treated horses, the procedure was successful in inverting the stump; three of the horses recovered without complications and were discharged from the hospital.
- One horse was euthanized due to colic 27 months after being discharged.
The researchers concluded that the method implemented in this study may improve the prognosis associated with jejunocaecal anastomosis by avoiding some potentially negative effects. Nevertheless, they acknowledged the limitations of their study, including the small sample size and the focus on a single tertiary hospital. Consequently, they suggested further large-scale studies to fully ascertain the efficacy and potential advantages of this approach.
Cite This Article
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
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