Evaluation of laparoscopic adhesiolysis for the treatment of experimentally induced adhesions in pony foals.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy of laparoscopic adhesiolysis in the treatment of experimentally induced adhesions in foals.


METHODS
8 healthy pony foals.


METHODS
Celiotomy was performed and adhesions created at the jejunoileal junction and at sites 0.5 and 1 m proximal to this junction, using a serosal abrasion method. Ten days after celiotomy, exploratory laparoscopy was performed. Laparoscopic adhesiolysis was performed in the treatment group only (4 foals, randomly selected). Thirty days after the exploratory laparoscopy, a final laparoscopic examination was performed, and the foals were euthanatized. The number and characteristics of abdominal adhesions were recorded during laparoscopy 10 and 30 days after celiotomy and during necropsy.


RESULTS
At 30 days after celiotomy, the number of adhesions in the control group was significantly higher than the number in the treatment group. In the control group, all adhesions observed during the exploratory laparoscopy were still evident at the final laparoscopy and necropsy. In the treatment group, adhesions did not form again after separation. During final laparoscopy and necropsy, a focal adhesion between the omentum and site of the initial laparoscope portal was observed in 5 of 8 foals.


CONCLUSIONS
The serosal abrasion model is useful for studying abdominal adhesions in foals. Laparoscopic adhesiolysis was an effective technique to break down experimentally induced adhesions in the early maturation stage of formation in pony foals. Studies are required to investigate prevention of de novo adhesions at the laparoscope portal sites.
Bouré
Ludovic P
LP
Department of Clinical Studies , Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada.
Pearce
Simon G
SG
Kerr
Carolyn L
CL
Lansdowne
Jennifer L
JL
Martin
Christine A
CA
Hathway
Amanda L
AL
Caswell
Jeff L
JL
D000005:Abdomen; D000818:Animals; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D009852:Omentum / Q000473:pathology; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000662:veterinary