Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horse with small intestine twisting - what caused it?
By Freeman, D E et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1979·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Mesodiverticular bands as a cause of small intestinal strangulation and volvulus in the horse.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In this study, three horses experienced a serious condition where parts of their small intestine twisted and became trapped due to a problem called a mesodiverticular band, which is an abnormal piece of tissue. This band was causing a loop of the intestine to get stuck, leading to a rupture and severe complications. Two of the horses underwent surgery to remove the damaged intestine and successfully reconnected the healthy parts. Unfortunately, the third horse had to be put to sleep after surgery revealed severe damage and infection in the abdomen. Overall, the treatment worked well for two of the horses, but it was not successful for the third.
Abstract
Volvulus of the jejunum and ileum in three horses was associated with intestinal strangulation in a mesenteric rent. The rent was in the jejunal mesentery at its point of attachment with an anomaly that was classified as a mesodiverticular band. The band also was attached to the dorsolateral surface of the jejunum, thus forming one side of a triangular hernial sac that was completed on the other side by the adjacent jejunal mesentery. Incarceration of a loop of small intestine in the hernial sac preceded rupture of the jejunal mesentery and subsequent intestinal strangulation. Surgical correction was successful in two horses and involved resection of the gangrenous intestine, then jejunocecal anastomosis. The third horse was euthanatized when intestinal rupture and peritonitis were found on exploratory laparotomy. Two mesodiverticular bands attached to the distal jejunum were incidental necropsy findings in a fourth horse.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/521351/