Laparoscopic-assisted approach to the pelvic flexure for surgical treatment of sand impaction in a horse

ABSTRACT

Background: Laparoscopy provides good visualization of horses abdominal cavity, besides providing minimal invasiveness and meticulous manipulation intra-abdominal organs. Laparoscopy is suitable for both diagnosing and treating acute abdomen in horses. The purpose of this study was to report a successful case of laparoscopic-assisted surgery for treating sand impaction in a horse.Case A 3-year-old horse, weighing 460 kg, was admitted following chronic intermittent episodes of diarrhea and colic. Physical exam revealed mild abdominal pain and liquid/pasty diarrhea. There was negative survey of gastrointestinal helminthes and microbiological analyses. Fecal sedimentation test revealed sand impaction. Surgical approach was opted for both accomplishment of the abdominal exploration and resolution of the impactation. The patient was anesthetized and positioned in dorsal recumbency. Laparoscopy was performed through an 11-mm trocar placed right cranially to the umbilicus. There were no apparent adhesions, bowel inflammation nor visceral displacement. A 15-cm celiotomy was carried out caudally to the umbilicus, under laparoscopic guidance, for initial inspection of the gastrointestinal tract. Incision enlargement was required for exteriorizing the pelvic flexure. Afterwards, enterotomy was carried out for drainage of the impactating content, followed by enterorraphy. The pelvic flex...