Perirectal abscess as suspected cause of bladder rupture in a foal

Abstract

Summary A 4‐month‐old colt foal was admitted to the hospital with a history of acute stranguria and colic signs. On presentation, he was tachycardic, tachypnoeic and pyrexic. Blood work showed marked leucocytosis and severe azotaemia. Ultrasound examination of the abdomen revealed a reduced bladder lumen and a large volume of free peritoneal fluid. Abdominocentesis confirmed uroperitoneum. The foal underwent a general anaesthetic to repair the bladder. Unfortunately, the following day, the uroperitoneum recurred, so a revision surgery was performed. The bladder wall was repaired and a large impaction of the terminal small colon and rectum was diagnosed at this point. Rectal examination post‐operatively revealed a spherical mass compressing the dorsal aspect of the rectum, which reduced its diameter by approximately 75%. Ultrasound examination, cytology and culture of a fine‐needle aspirate of the mass revealed it to be a perirectal abscess, and this was drained per rectum and lavaged several times. The foal recovered well, regained the ability to micturate and remained healthy at subsequent post‐operative checks. It is suspected that the perirectal abscess led to overdistention and subsequent rupture of the bladder.

Colic due to dorsally located perirectal abscesses: A retrospective case series of six horses

“…Regarding the rarely described cases of perirectal abscesses in horses, it is noteworthy that six affected horses were presented within a period of 3 years. The history, clinical signs, treatment and outcome of the six cases with perirectal abscesses reported here are comparable to other published cases of the disease (Ayres & Wagner, 1994; Kenyon et al, 2023;Magee et al, 1997;Sanders-Shamis, 1985;Torkelson, 2002). In the cases described here and by other authors, most of the animals were male (Magee et al, 1997;Torkelson, 2002).…”

“…Perirectal abscesses have rarely been reported in horses and publications mostly include young animals (Ayres & Wagner, 1994; Kenyon et al, 2023; Magee et al, 1997; Torkelson, 2002). One case series with six affected horses exists; however, detailed information about sex, breed, age and long‐term outcome are lacking (Sanders‐Shamis, 1985).…”

A bladder rupture in a four‐month‐old Finnhorse filly

“…In adult horses, it has been reported to happen after trauma, urinary tract obstruction and parturition (Beck et al 1996;Peitzmeier et al 2016). There is also a recently published case report, where a perirectal abscess was suspected to have caused a bladder rupture in a four-month-old foal (Abanades Kenyon et al 2023). Here, we report a case of a four-month-old Finnhorse filly that had a bladder rupture after being treated for a small colon impaction.…”

Long‐term morbidity and survival in horses recovered from colic surgery

“…In adult horses, it has been reported to happen after trauma, urinary tract obstruction and parturition (Beck et al 1996;Peitzmeier et al 2016). There is also a recently published case report, where a perirectal abscess was suspected to have caused a bladder rupture in a four-month-old foal (Abanades Kenyon et al 2023). Here, we report a case of a four-month-old Finnhorse filly that had a bladder rupture after being treated for a small colon impaction.…”