34th Annual Scientific Meeting proceedings

Objectives:

To describe a novel, low-cost technique for the surgical management of large-sized abdominal hernias and acute celiotomy dehiscence, with a low complication rate

Methods:

A retrospective study of 49 cases was performed. All horses with incisional hernias (n=43) and acute total dehiscence after celiotomy (n=6) that were treated with polyamide cable-ties were included. The abdominal defect was repaired with primary closure of the linea alba and reinforced with gas sterilised polyamide cable-ties (5 mm wide and 40 cm long). Cable-ties were applied in a Lambert pattern, each 5 cm apart, passing through the skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia, muscle and fascia of the rectus abdominal muscle, subcutaneous tissue and skin of each incisional side. A stent bandage was placed under and within the cable-tie loop. The skin was sutured only in patients that had no infection of the surgical wound.

Results:

Forty-three of the cases were repaired 4 weeks after the first surgery. In 6 other cases, the technique was used at the time of a recurring laparotomy due to acute dehiscence.

Forty-five out of 49 horses (91.8%) were discharged and survived a follow-up of 12 months. Three of these 45 (6.6%) developed an infection of the linea alba that was treated with drainage and systemic antibiotics. None of the horses discharged had recurrence of the herniation or any other complications.

Conclusions:

This approach represents an alternative measure for the treatment of abdominal hernia repair and for acute total celiotomy dehiscence, giving extra surface to withstand the tension at the surgical wound.