Diaphragmatic hernia repair in three young horses.
OBJECTIVE
This clinical report describes surgical correction of diaphragmatic hernia in three young horses.


METHODS
Retrospective investigation of medical records and subsequent racing performance.


METHODS
Three young horses with diaphragmatic hernia.


RESULTS
Three young horses with signs of abdominal pain had diaphragmatic hernia causing small intestinal strangulation. The strangulated small intestine was resected and an end-to-end jejuno-jejunal (two horses) or a side-to-side jejuno-cecal anastomosis (one horse) was performed. Diaphragmatic hernias were closed with a continuous suture pattern. All horses recovered and raced. No difference in race records was found between the subject horses and their siblings. One subject horse died of colic at 5 years of age, but the cause of the colic was undetermined. The remaining two horses are in use as broodmares and have produced multiple foals without recurrence of signs of diaphragmatic hernia.


CONCLUSIONS
Diaphragmatic hernias can be repaired in horses. These horses can achieve race records similar to their siblings and can produce foals without recurrence of signs of diaphragmatic hernia.
Santschi
E M
EM
Peterson and Smith Equine Hospital, Ocala, FL, USA.
Juzwiak
J S
JS
Moll
H D
HD
Slone
D E
DE
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D002432:Cecum / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D015994:Incidence; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D007583:Jejunum / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome