title: Omentum-enhanced reconstruction of chronic nonhealing wounds in cats: techniques and clinical use.
abstract: The greater omentum was used to aid in the reconstruction of nonhealing wounds in five cats. In each cat the cause of the nonhealing wound could not be determined. A vascular omental pedicle was created at laparotomy by dividing the dorsal leaf of the omentum at it pancreatic attachments (four cats) or by dividing the ventral leaf at its gastric attachments (one cat). The pedicle was then passed through either the ventral or lateral body wall into the nonhealing wound via a subcutaneous tunnel. The wounds were closed over the omentum after local tissue mobilization. All the wounds healed uneventfully and have remained healed with a mean follow-up period of 2.5 years. Complications included intestinal herniation through a ventral midline exit hole (one cat), presumed abdominal fat herniation through a ventral abdominal exit hole (one cat) and seroma formation (one cat). All of the complications were treated successfully. The omentum should be considered a useful adjunct in the treatment of nonhealing wounds in cats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104-6010, USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Brockman
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Conzemius
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Cabell
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Trout
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D008297:Male; D009852:Omentum / Q000637:transplantation*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary; D013522:Surgery, Veterinary / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*