Bladder prolapse with simultaneous entrapment of a portion of the descending colon through the urethral sphincter secondary to dystocia in a mare

Abstract

SummaryBladder prolapse is rare in mares but may occur as a result of excessive straining during parturition or postpartum. We report a case of dystocia‐associated prolapse and entrapment of the small colon through the external urethral opening into a prolapsed urinary bladder. No previous reports of this condition were found. An 11‐year‐old Thoroughbred mare was presented to The Equine Hospital of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia for evaluation and treatment of dystocia. Prolapse of the urinary bladder was concomitantly diagnosed. After initial assessment, replacement of the urinary bladder in the normal position did not appear possible. The mare was immediately prepared for caesarean section. The foal was successfully delivered and resuscitated. Detailed assessment of the bladder during surgery revealed that the small colon had prolapsed through the external urethral opening and was inside the space formed by the everted bladder. The urinary bladder was opened. The small colon was replaced into the abdominal cavity; a surgeon gently replaced the small colon through the external urethral sphincter and a second surgeon retrieved the small colon by gentle traction until normally aligned. The bladder was closed and replaced. The mare recovered uneventfully. The mare and the foal were discharged from the hospital 17 days post‐operatively.

Decision‐making in complicated dystocias

“…In their case report in this issue, Sikorra, Berreta, Voermans and Robinson (Sikorra et al, 2024) describe the successful management of a mare in labour with entrapment of the bladder and small colon, a fascinating case. The fact that both mare and foal were successfully discharged from the hospital attests to the quick decision‐making and immediate surgical intervention by this team of veterinarians.…”