Rectum diverticulum/perineal hernia surgery through longitudinal contracting of the wall of the rectum

Older male dogs often exhibit the symptoms of rectum diverticulum and perin eal hernia. In order to point out the often common reason of these disorder s, the term "rectum diverticulum/perineal hernia complex" has been introduc ed. In a large group of such patients two methods of surgical correction of thi s problem were retrospectively evaluated. Only patients were included in th is evaluation that were euthanasied if recurrence occured. In 21 patients (group 1) the often performed method of Bojrab was used, bot h in rectum diverticulum and in perineal hernia operations. In group 2 15 d ogs were subjected to the same operation technique, but we performed an add itional pleating contraction of the herniated gut wall layers. In case of v isible recurrence at an age of at least 11 years the dogs were euthanasied. Group 1 showed a postoperative survival time of 3.61 +/- 0.96 years until r ecurrence, group 2 revealed recurrence not before 4.93 +/- 0.93 years post operationem. The difference is significant (p < 0.05). It is the opinion of the authors that additional longitudinal contracting b y pleating of the gut markedly prolonges the point of time when recurrence appears.