A novel use for polyamide tie‐wraps in the surgical resolution of caecocolic intussusception in a horse

Abstract

SummaryCaecocolic intussusception is an uncommon cause of colic in the horse. Surgical correction presents its own set of challenges. The affected tissue is often markedly oedematous and a partial typhlectomy through an enterotomy incision in the right ventral colon can be the only method of successfully reducing the intussusceptum. Suture ligation of the nonviable portion of caecum can result in cut through of tissue, which can lead to an insecure ligation. In addition, a right ventral colon enterotomy can result in life‐threatening peritoneal contamination. This report describes the novel use of polyamide tie‐wraps to ligate the inverted caecum, allowing for partial typhlectomy and reduction of the intussusceptum, as well as a method to minimise potential abdominal contamination. To the author's knowledge, this is the first report of the use of polyamide tie‐wraps in the gastrointestinal tract of the horse.