Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Medical management of a full-thickness tear of the retroperitoneal portion of the rectum in a horse with hyperadrenocorticism.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1997
- Authors:
- Mazan, M R
- Affiliation:
- Department of Medicine · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 30-year-old Morgan-Quarter Horse gelding with a condition called hyperadrenocorticism (which affects hormone levels) was treated for a serious tear in the back part of his rectum. In older horses, the anatomy can be a bit different, which means these types of tears can happen more often than we realize. Surprisingly, this horse recovered quickly and did well, even with his underlying health issue that usually makes healing harder. While there isn't a lot of information on how to treat these specific tears, this case suggests that medical treatment might be a good option.
Abstract
A 30-year-old Morgan-Quarter Horse gelding with hyperadrenocorticism was referred for treatment of a full-thickness tear of the retroperitoneal portion of the rectum. In older horses, the caudal end of the peritoneal space may be farther cranial than is commonly thought. Thus, there is a greater chance that full-thickness rectal tears will involve the retroperitoneal, rather than the peritoneal, portion of the rectum. This horse had a quick recovery and good outcome, despite underlying hyperadrenocorticism that would be expected to impair healing. Although relatively little is known about management and prognosis of full-thickness tears of the retroperitoneal portion of the rectum, results in this horse suggest that medical management may be appropriate.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9054997/