Abdominal herniotomy as an alternative method of inguinal hernia treatmentfor stallions

Inguinal and scrotal hernias occur relatively often in horses. Inguinal her nia is a partial dislocation of intestines into the inguinal canal, while s crotal hernia means the partial dislocation of intestines into the scrotum. In adult stallions the majority of inguinal hernia cases appear as a dislo cation and incarceration of the intestine loops. The only solution in these cases is surgical repair in the inguinal canal area or in the scrotum. Dur ing surgery a testicle is removed. In certain cases additional medial lapar otomy is necessary. The authors have applied another surgical method. The surgery of the inguin al hernia is performed through; a medial laparotomy, after which a hernioto my of the vaginal ring is performed, and the dislocated intestines are repo sitoned. The testicle is always preserved. In all the cases the vaginal rin g was cut using an original button knife - herniotome. After repositioning the intestines, the vaginal ring was not sutured. Ten stallions with inguinal or scrotal hernias underwent surgical treatment by means of medial laparotomy connected with herniotomy of the vaginal rin g. None of them had inguinal herniation recurrences after surgery, despite the vaginal ring incision. The authors' method allows for the evaluation of intestines while in the case of the inguinal canal approach only the incar cerated part of the intestines can be evaluated. Results indicate the possibility of surgical treatment of inguinal hernia b y means of a medial laparotomy approach connected with herniotomy of the va ginal ring.