Standing surgical repair of cystorrhexis in two mares

Two surgical techniques were used to evert the bladder into the vagina for observation and repair of bladder tears that were associated with parturiti on. One technique involved an incision through the vaginal floor into the p eritoneal cavity just caudal to the cervix, and prolapse of the bladder int o the vagina. The second technique involved a 3-cm incision through the ure thra, 5 cm cranial to the urethral orifice, and digital exploration of the tear and finger traction to evert the bladder through the urethral incision . In both mares, the bladder defects were repaired in two layers, with use of 2-0 polyglycolic acid in a simple continuous pattern. After repositionin g, the vaginal and urethral incisions were closed in single layers using ab sorbable suture material. A standing vaginal approach eliminates the need f or general anesthesia and allows excellent observation and repair of bladde r tears in adult mares. (C)Copyright 1999 by The American College of Veteri nary Surgeons.