Obstruction of the Small Colon by Intramural Haematoma in Three Horses

Abstract

Three cases of intramural haematoma of the small colon of horses are presented. In all cases the haematoma obstructed the lumen and caused an accumulation of faeces and gas. The horses were in shock and had acute abdominal pain. Exploratory abdominal surgery revealed the haematomas and showed them to be associated with chronic infection and terminal rupture in one animal which was subsequently killed, and an iatrogenic perforation of the terminal small colon in another which survived after intestinal resection. In the remaining horse, which died without recovering after intestinal resection, no cause was found.

Intramural hematoma in the jejunum as a cause of colics in horses

“…W piśmiennictwie dostępne są opisy pojedynczych przypadków (4,5,9). Jest on przyczyną prostej niedrożności polegającej na zwężeniu światła przewodu pokarmowego w miejscu powstania wynaczynienia.…”

“…Innym kryterium jest podział ze względu na odcinek przewodu pokarmowego, jaki obejmuje. Większość opisywanych przypadków dotyczy jelita grubego, a konkretnie okrężnicy małej (5,7,9,10), ale mogą one występować również w jelicie cienkim, w różnych jego fragmentach, najczęściej w jelicie czczym (1, 4).…”

Nonstrangulating small colon obstruction caused by a submucosal haematoma

“…Submucosal haematomas of the small colon are uncommon, with only a few cases having been reported in the last 20 years (Pearson and Waterman 1986;Dart et al 1992;Edwards 1992). Earlier reports found small colon haematomas in 0.4-2.4% of horses that underwent celiotomy due to colic (Pearson et al 1975;Speirs et al 1981), and in 0.2% of horses examined for colic (Huskamp 1982). One author reported a 0.67% prevalence of small colon haematomas in horses referred for colic surgery (Edwards 1992), but more recent retrospective and prospective studies have not reported cases of small colon haematomas within their study populations (Hillyer et al 2002;Proudman et al 2002).…”

Spontaneous rupture of the rectum in a pony

“…Noniatrogenic tears have been associated with dystocia (Arnold et al 1978;Speirs et al 19801, breeding accidents (i.e. penile perforation of the rectum in mares) (Arnold et al 1978;Speirs et al 19801, diverticulum formation (Kohler et al 1986), vertebral fractures (Arnold et al 1978), ruptured small colon haematomas (Speirs et al 1981), thromboembolism (Slone et al 1982;Guglick et al 1996), sand impaction (Mazan 19971, neurogenic faecal retention and inherent bowel wall weakness (Arnold et al 1978).…”