Objective-To describe the surgical treatment of a dorsal diaphragmatic hern
ia in an adult horse using thoracic rib resection aided by thoracoscopy and
a flank incision.
Study Design-Case report.
Animal Population-One client-owned horse.
Results-A six-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding was admitted for colic-assoc
iated colonic incarceration in a diaphragmatic hernia. Seven weeks after th
e initial colic surgery, the gelding underwent surgery to repair the defect
. Thoracoscopy and a Rank incision were used to identify the location of th
e hernia and the subsequent site of rib resection. The stomach was adhered
to the edges of the defect, leaving only a small residual hole. Resection o
f the 14th rib provided excellent exposure of the defect and closure of the
remaining hernia.
Conclusion and Clinical Relevance-Thoracic rib resection can provide access
to diaphragmatic hernias in adult horses, Thoracoscopy or a flank incision
, or both, may aid in determining which rib is best resected. (C) Copyright
2001 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.