Intestinal surgery in the foal.
Intestinal surgery in the foal is seldom necessary but some conditions in which it is essential are well recognized. The foal is a good surgical subject but success depends mainly on operating promptly before irreversible degenerative changes take place. Exploratory laparatomy is recommended whenever mechanical obstruction is suspected. Indications fall broadly into two main categories: 1. Cases arising from congenital defects. These form a miscellaneous group and present considerable difficulties in diagnosis and effective treatment. 2. Cases related to acute onset of obstruction, mainly due to volvulus or torsion. By far the most important condition in this category is volvulus of the ileum close to the ileocaecal valve. Aetiological factors are discussed, and the value of resection of affected small intestine and creation of a new jejuno-caecal opening is indicated. It is suggested that with improvement of such techniques it will be possible to save a higher proportion of foals suffering from mechanical intestinal obstruction.
D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D002429:Cecal Diseases / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D004380:Duodenal Obstruction / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D006547:Hernia / Q000662:veterinary; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000662:veterinary*; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000002:abnormalities; D007422:Intestines / Q000601:surgery*; D007443:Intussusception / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D008470:Meconium; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011707:Pyloric Stenosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D014102:Torsion Abnormality