title: Rectal packing as initial management of grade 3 rectal tears.
abstract: Grade 3 rectal tears were created in 14 horses. Epidural anaesthesia was maintained in all horses for 8 h post injury. In seven horses with cotton filled stockinette packing the rectum, neither gross faecal contamination nor progression of the rectal tear occurred. Seven horses without rectal packing developed faecal contamination of the rectal tear with formation of a faeces filled serosal or mesorectal diverticulum.
authors.affiliation: Texas Veterinary Medical Center, Texas A & M University, Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, College Station 77843-4475, USA.
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Baird
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Watkins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006736:Horses / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D012007:Rectum / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D013522:Surgery, Veterinary / Q000379:methods*; D013630:Tampons, Surgical / Q000662:veterinary*