The duodenum: An uncommon site of surgical lesions

It is fortunate for the horse that duodenal lesions requiring surgical correction occur infrequently. Despite being an uncommon site of obstruction, palpation of the duodenum should be part of a complete surgical abdominal exploration. Horses with proximal obstruction typically have large volumes of reflux following passage of a nasogastric tube. Biochemistry abnormalities may include hypochloraemia and hyperglycaemia particularly with a complete or strangulating obstruction. Early surgical treatment of a duodenal volvulus may result in a favourable outcome.