Epidemiological and genetical studies in Norwegian pig herds. IV. Breed effects, recurrence of disease, and relationship between disease and some performance traits

Individual health records collected from 1984 to 1986 in 70 swine-herds in the south-eastern part of Norway were analysed by epidemiological methods. The incidence rate for most of the reported diseases was less than 1% per farrowing, and a majority of disease recordings concerned 6 frequently-occurring conditions. The incidence of several diseases was lower in crossbred sows compared to purebred Norwegian landrace sows. The risk of most diseases increased in sows that had been ill previously, and also in litters from sows that had previously had diseased litters. Disease risk in piglets also increased if the sow became ill during the first few days after farrowing. The reduced performance associated with most of the common diseases impacts adversely on economic returns.     

Surgical repair of a congenital lateral abdominal wall hernia in a neonatal foal

A 16‐hour‐old Quarter Horse filly presented for evaluation of a soft mass in the right caudoventral lateral abdominal wall. Radiography and ultrasonography confirmed the presence of a nonreducible lateral abdominal wall hernia with small intestine located between the skin and body wall. The size of the defect itself could not be imaged and the filly was taken to surgery. A 4 cm vertical defect that appeared congenital was found in the transverse abdominal muscle and was repaired by primary apposition. This case report describes the repair and outcome of this unusual type of congenital hernia.     

SELECTIVE ABDOMINAL ANGIOGRAPHY AS A DIAGNOSTIC METHOD FOR DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA IN THE DOG: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Difficulty in recognition of some diaphragmatic hernias in dogs have stimulated the authors to develop a diagnostic method consisting of selective angiography of the cranial mesenteric and celiac arteries. The basis for the experimen was that each herniated visceral organ is usually displaced with its vessels. The experiment was carried out on 14 mongrel dogs. Four dogs served as controls. Different kinds of diaphragmatic hernias were surgically created in 10 dogs. Survey abdominal radiographs, gastrointestinal tract contrast studies and selective abdominal angiography were performed 14 days later. In angiograms of dogs with omental diaphragmatic hernias, displacement of branches of the left gastroepiploic artery into the thorax was seen. In angiograms of dogs with hepatic diaphragmatic hernias, branches of the common hepatic artery were seen to enter the thorax. In dogs with herniated small intestine, the jejunal branches of the cranial mesenteric artery were seen entering the thorax. Potential possibilities of selective abdominal angiography for diagnosis of diaphragmatic hernias are discussed.     

Use of laparotomy in a staged approach for resolution of bilateral or complicated perineal hernia in 41 dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of laparotomy as the initial step in the treatment of bilateral or complicated perineal hernia (PH) in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS OR SAMPLE POPULATION: Forty-one dogs with PH. METHODS: Dogs with bilateral or complicated PH treated by a 2-step approach between November 1997 and December 2001 were studied. Inclusion criteria for complicated PH were: recurrence of PH, unilateral PH with a major rectal dilatation, PH with a concurrent surgical prostatic disease, and PH with retroflexed bladder. Colopexy, vas deferens pexy, cystopexy, and prostatic omentalization were performed during laparotomy as needed. Later, PH was performed by internal obturator muscle flap (IOMF) or if there was a perineal rent or weakness on the contralateral side, appositional herniorrhaphy was performed. Outcome was followed for >/=6 months. RESULTS: PH were bilateral (20 dogs) or unilateral (21). Twenty-one (51%) dogs had prostatic disease (clinical or ultrasonography diagnosis; 17 confirmed histologically) and 12 (29%) had urinary bladder retroflexion. Forty-one colopexies, 32 vas deferens pexies, 6 cystopexies, and 9 prostatic surgeries (omentalization or perineal cyst resection) were performed. PH was performed 2-20 days (median, 6 days) later: 61 IOMF transpositions, 13 appositional. Mean follow-up time was 26.6 months (range, 6-54 months, median, 27 months). PH was resolved in 37 (90%) dogs; 4 dogs had recurrence, and all occurred within 6 months. Thirty-eight (92%) dogs had an improved quality of life (good in 34 dogs, fair in 4 dogs). Wound complications occurred in 7 dogs (17%). Postoperative urine dribbling occurred in 15 dogs (37%) and was irreversible in 7 dogs (17%). Postoperative fecal straining persisted in 18 dogs (44%), and was permanent in 4 dogs (10%). Fecal incontinence did not occur. CONCLUSIONS: In bilateral or complicated PH, fixation of the urinary bladder and colon, and treatment of prostatic disease increase the chances of resolution. Emptying of the perineal space by organ pexy allows improved observation during herniorrhaphy. Despite a 90% clinical resolution, dogs with complicated PH treated by a 2-step protocol may have persistent urinary and fecal disorders. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: To improve the prognosis of bilateral or complicated PH, investigation and treatment of concomitant lesions (rectal, prostatic, bladder) should be part of a rational surgical strategy using a 2-step protocol.     

Internal (intra‐abdominal) herniation in the horse

Internal abdominal hernias are an uncommon occurrence in the horse. Protrusion of an abdominal organ or viscus may occur through a normal or pathological aperture within the peritoneal cavity, and incarceration of bowel through such an opening may lead to a strangulating obstruction of the intestine, characterised by luminal blockage and concurrent vascular compromise. As such, entrapment of bowel in internal hernias can represent an important indication for colic surgery in the horse.     

TREATMENT OF UNILATERAL PERINEAL HERNIAS IN 2 MALE CHINCHILLAS (CHINCHILLA LANIGERA)

Two sexually intact adult male chinchillas were presented with a swelling in the perineal region. Radiographically both masses had a soft tissue opacity. Ultrasonography confirmed the tentative diagnosis of perineal hernia. In the first case the ultrasonographic examination revealed a fluid-filled structure inside the swelling, which was determined to be the urinary bladder. In the second case the hernia sac was filled with homogeneous tissue, belived to be fat. Subsequently, unilateral perineal herniorrhaphies including an internal obturator muscle flap transposition technique were performed. Both chinchillas recovered well with subsequent uneventful healing of the surgical sites. No long-term complications or recurrences of the perineal hernias were reported. This clinical report shows that perineal hernias occur in chinchillas and can be surgically treated with success.     

Single‐port laparoscopic incisional hernia repair in a horse

A 16‐year‐old Italian Saddle Horse gelding was referred for treatment of an incisional hernia that developed 7 months after a ventral midline laparotomy for treatment of acute abdominal pain. Physical examination revealed a hernia approximately 20 cm long and 15 cm wide on the ventral aspect of the abdomen. Ultrasonography revealed the dimensions of the hernia ring to be approximately 15 cm in length and 10 cm in width. A single‐port laparoscopic incisional hernia repair using an operating 0° laparoscope was performed with an appropriately sized (24 × 18 cm) piece of mesh fixed in place with simple interrupted transabdominal sutures. At 4 weeks post operatively, follow‐up physical examination and ultrasonography confirmed healing of the surgical site with no evidence of hernia recurrence. The same evaluation was done 6 months post operatively, and the horse returned to its previous level of activity 8 months post operatively. In horses, laparoscopic application of mesh should be considered among the treatment options for incisional hernia. In the present case, this technique was performed with a single port using an operative laparoscope, in contrast to the multiportal techniques reported previously. The case presented here demonstrates that single‐port laparoscopic herniorrhaphy is feasible, and allows proper placement of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene intraperitoneal mesh in horses