OMENTUM-ENHANCED RECONSTRUCTION OF CHRONIC NONHEALING WOUNDS IN CATS - TECHNIQUES AND CLINICAL USE

The greater omentum was used to aid in the reconstruction of nonhealin g wounds in five cats. In each cat the cause of the nonhealing wound c ould not be determined. A vascular omental pedicle was created at lapa rotomy by dividing the dorsal leaf of the omentum at its pancreatic at tachments (four cats) or by dividing the ventral leaf at its gastric a ttachments (one cat). The pedicle was then passed through either the v entral or lateral body wall into the nonhealing wound via a subcutaneo us tunnel. The wounds were closed over the omentum after local tissue mobilization. All the wounds healed uneventfully and have remained hea led with a mean follow-up period of 2.5 years. Complications included intestinal herniation through a ventral midline exit hole (one cat), p resumed abdominal fat herniation through a ventral abdominal exit hole (one cat) and seroma formation (one cat). All of the complications we re treated successfully. The omentum should be considered a useful adj unct in the treatment of nonhealing wounds in cats. (C) Copyright 1996 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons