Page 253 - Manual of Equine Field Surgery

Inguinal Herniorrhaphy 249

increased abdominal pressure and large vaginal congenital inguinal hernia should be recorded in

rings. In the perinatal period the vaginal rings are the medical record to remind the veterinarian of

large to allow the testicles to descend into the this potential complication.

scrotum, but normally contract to less than 2 cm

during the first 2 weeks of life. Increased abdomi-

nal pressure during parturition may force the REFERENCES

small intestines into the inguinal canal or scrotum

as the foal passes through the birth canal. Strain- 1. Spurlock GH, Robertson JT: Congenital inguinal

ing to pass meconium may also increase abdomi- hernias associated with a rent in the common

nal pressure and increase the likelihood for vaginal tunic in five foals, J Am Vet Med Assoc

intestines to pass into the inguinal canal. Occa- 193:1087, 1988.

sionally, the parietal vaginal tunic or the peri- 2. Hance SR, DeBowes RM, Clem MF, et al: Umbilical,

toneum iI1 the vaginal ring region tears, and the inguinal, and ventral hernias in horses, Comp Cont

Educ Pract Vet 12:862, 1990.
intestines migrate subcutaneously under the skin. 3. Gaughan EM: Inguinal hernias in horses, Comp Cont

Individual intestinal loops may be seen under the
Educ Pract Vet 20:1057, 1998.

skin. 4. Dietz 0, Richter W: Etiology, early symptoms and

Foals with inguinal hernia(s) generally present treatment of equine inguinal hernia. Praktische

with nonpainful swelling or enlargement of the Tierarzt 83:712, 2002.

scrotum or inguinal region. Usually the hernias 5. Adams SB, Fessler JF: Neonatal inguinal herniorrha-

are reducible, do not cause any clinical signs such phy, In Adams SB, Fessler JF, editors: Atlas of equine

as colic, and resolve within a few days to a few surgery, Philadelphia, 2000, WB Saunders.

months. Conservative therapy including daily 6. van der Velden MA: Ruptured inguinal hernia in

monitoring and frequent reduction of the hernia new born colt foals: a review of 51 cases, Equine Vet

J 20: 178, 1988.
is recommended until the vaginal rings close 7. Klohnen A, Wilson DG: Laparoscopic repair of

down and the hernia resolves. There is some scrotal hernia in 2 foals, Vet Surg 25:414, 1996.

concern that foals treated conservatively for 8. Marien T, vanHoeck F, Adriaenssen A, et al: Laparo-

inguinal hernias may be predisposed to evisce- scopic testis-sparing herniorrhaphy: a new approach

ration following castration. Therefore, owners for congenital inguinal hernia repair in the foal,

should be aware of this potential complication Equine Vet Educ 13:32, 2001.

and instructed to inform their veterinarian at the 9. Boure LP: Laparoscopic surgical techniques in foals,

time of castration. Additionally, the presence of a ProcACVS Vet Symp 13:31, 2003.