Herniation of the urinary bladder through a congenitally enlarged inguinal canal in a cat

A two-year-old, castrated male Main Coon cat was referred because of chronic, recurrent pollakiuria, haematuria, and acute vomiting. On clinical examination, a smooth, soft-tissue mass, suspected to be the urinary bladder, was palpable outside of the abdominal wall in the inguinal area. On radiographs, the urinary bladder was found to be extra-abdominal, and herniated through an enlarged right inguinal canal at exploratory coeliotomy.The left inguinal canal was also enlarged. The urinary bladder was repositioned and fixed to the caudal abdominal wall by incisional cystopexy and both enlarged inguinal canals were partially closed with an interrupted suture pattern.     

Herniation of the small intestine through the femoral canal after castration in a 3‐year‐old Thoroughbred

Complications following castration are a potential problem in equine practice. Intestinal evisceration is a life‐threatening condition requiring immediate correction. The following case report describes a rare condition associated with post castration evisceration in a 3‐year‐old Thoroughbred. Shortly after the eviscerated small intestine was repositioned in the abdomen, the horse showed signs of colic and at the second surgery a 4.5 m jejunal loop was found incarcerated in the femoral canal. After resection and anastomosis, the femoral canal was obliterated using large moistened gauze sponges. The horse made a complete recovery and returned to race training. The occurrence of femoral hernia, a condition fairly common in man, has been described but no clinical cases have been reported in horses. This is a severe, although rare, complication after castration.     

Strangulating obstruction of the small intestine by a fibrous band originating on the nephrosplenic ligament

During a laparotomy for colic signs in a 2-year-old male Thoroughbred, a portion of approximately 7 m of the jejunum was found entrapped in a fibrous band originating from the nephrosplenic ligament. The entrapped jejunum was necrotic and was removed. Two months after the first surgery, a laparoscopy was performed to close the nephrosplenic space and it was possible to identify several fibrous bands bridging from the renal capsule to the splenic capsule and a fibrotic plate over the spleen. This is the first report of a strangulating obstruction of the jejunum in the nephrosplenic space and of fibrous bands bridging from the nephrosplenic ligament to the spleen. The fibrous bands were likely due to inflammation caused by previous, multiple left dorsal displacements of the bowel, which resolved spontaneously.     

Treatment of rupture of suspensory ligament and superficial flexor tendon in a bull

Rupture of the suspensory ligament at the insertions on the proximal sesamoid bones, and of the superficial flexor tendon of the left fore limb, occurred in an adult Angus bull as a result of fighting. There was severe hyperextension of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint with the dewclaws almost touching the ground. Radiographs revealed severe hyper-extension of the MCP joint with the sesamoid bones aligned directly distal to the metacarpus. Initially, a full length fiberglass cast was applied with the limb partially flexed within the cast and the heels elevated. The cast was replaced twice. The cast was removed after 136 days and the bull was bearing full weight on the limb. Prolonged immobilisation of the limb produced new bone in the area (a normal response in cattle) to cause ankylosis of the traumatized MCP joint and partial ankylosis of the carpus. The bull was being used for pasture breeding one year after the injury.     

Ganglioneuroma in the small intestine of a juvenile pig

A mass was located in the small intestine of a slaughtered 6-month-old male Landrace-cross pig that had no clinical abnormalities. This egg-shaped well-circumscribed mass was situated in the submucosal and muscular tissue layers and protruded into the lumen. Histopathologically, the tumor comprised discrete or aggregated ganglion and schwannian cells in neuropil-like tissue. Some ganglion cells contained Nissl substance in their cytoplasm. The ganglion cells stained positive for neuron-specific enolase, class III β-tubulin, neurofilament, and synaptophysin; the schwannian cells stained positive for vimentin, S-100 protein, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. The tumor was diagnosed as a ganglioneuroma in accordance with these findings. Here, we have reported detailed immunohistochemical findings in addition to the histopathological features of a swine ganglioneuroma.     

Incarceration of the caecum through a rent in the gastrosplenic ligament

A 3-year-old Thoroughbred gelding presented with acute signs of colic and tachycardia. Transabdominal ultrasonography revealed a viscus visible on the left and right sides of the cranioventral abdomen with a mural thickness of up to 1.6 cm. Exploratory laparotomy was performed under general anaesthesia. This revealed that the caecum was incarcerated through a rent in the gastrosplenic ligament, and the caecal apex was in the left caudal abdomen. The ventral aspect of the gastrosplenic ligament was ligated and transected. The caecum was freed, and normal orientation confirmed. The horse recovered uneventfully from surgery. Caecal mural thickness was monitored using daily ultrasonography, until normal. The horse was discharged from the hospital 11 days post-operatively. Five months later, the horse returned to race training.     

Surgery of the bovine small intestine

Cattle require surgery for small-intestinal problems less frequently than they do for abomasal, forestomach, or large-intestinal problems. Close attention to local vascular anatomy is critical to success when intestinal resection is required. Cows with signs of severe abdominal pain may make rapid recoveries following prompt surgical treatment. This article discusses relevant anatomy of the small intestine and the diagnosis and treatment of intussusception, volvulus, obstruction by incarceration or entrapment, and duodenal obstruction.     

Urinary Bladder Herniation through a Vaginal Tear in a Rottweiller with Dystocia

A four-year old female Rottweiler presented with a 34-hour history of dystocia. Physical examination revealed a purple-black, fluid-filled sac protruding from vulva and suspended by a similar colored stalk. Digital vaginal examination indicated that the stalk of tissue extended up into the cervix and beyond. Due to the grossly necrotic appearance, the stalk of tissue was ligated, and the sac was removed. Three puppies were delivered vaginally, but a subsequent caesarian section was required due to uterine inertia likely secondary to exhaustion. Three more live puppies were delivered via the c-section. Further abdominal exploration revealed a tear in the left vaginal wall, one ligated ureter, and the second ureter free at its distal end and leaking urine into the abdomen. The surgical findings indicated that the bladder, ureters, and urethra had herniated through the vaginal tear and prolapsed through the vulva.