34th Annual Scientific Meeting proceedings

Objectives:

Perineal hernia (PH) is caused by the separation of the anal septal muscles and the displacement of pelvic/abdominal organs under the perineal skin. Reconstruction surgery of the pelvic septum is the treatment of choice for canine PH. This study aimed to describe the procedure and outcome of surgical repair using the transposition of tunica vaginalis communis (TVC) for PH in dogs.

Methods:

Intact male dogs diagnosed with PH were included in this study. Surgery underwent each case in the Trendelenburg position. Castration was performed with the open technique, followed by colopexy and cystopexy via laparotomy as needed. The remaining bilateral TVCs transposed to the opening of PH were used for the perineal herniorrhaphy. Intraoperative findings, complications, and outcomes were evaluated and recorded.

Results:

Fourteen dogs (median age 10 year-old [range, 7–13 year-old]; median body weight 4.7 kg [range, 1.6–40 kg]) were included in this study. Perineal herniorrhaphy with the transposition of TVC was feasible in all cases. Colopexy and cytopexy were performed in 10 cases each. The median operation time was 93 min [range, 46–149 min] in unilateral PH, and 111 min [range, 92–149 min] in bilateral PH. Postoperative long-term prognosis was excellent in 12 dogs (85.7%). Of the remaining 2 dogs, one showed the recurrence of PH on postoperative day (POD) 136, and another had the contralateral PH occurred without the recurrence on POD 41.

Conclusions:

Our study suggests that the surgical technique with the transposition of TVC is an alternative option for the PH repair in dogs.