Comparison of Tensile Strength and Early Healing of Acute Repeat Celiotomy Through a Ventral Median or a Right Ventral Paramedian Approach

Abstract

To compare tensile strength, failure location, and histologic features after acute repeat celiotomy through a ventral median (RVM) or a right ventral paramedian (RVP) celiotomy in horses. Ex vivo experimental study. Adult horses (N = 18). Twelve adult horses had original ventral median (OVM) celiotomy. Repeat celiotomy was performed 72 hours postoperatively through the original ventral median (RVM, N = 6) or a RVP (N = 6) celiotomy. Celiotomies were scored daily for edema, drainage, and dehiscence. Fourteen days after repeat celiotomy, horses were euthanatized and abdominal wall containing celiotomy(ies) were collected for biomechanical and histological evaluation. The abdominal wall of control horses (N = 6; no celiotomy) was collected for biomechanical testing. Vital sign variables, incisional edema, and histologic scores were compared using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Incisional fibrotic depth and tensile strength per unit length (N/cm) was compared using repeated measures ANOVA. RVM and RVP horses had significantly less tensile strength compared to control horses, but no differences were observed between RVM and RVP horses. No differences in healing, inflammation, infection, or necrosis of repeat celiotomies was observed, but RVP horses accumulated more fibrin and hemorrhage within the incision. RVP horses had significantly greater incisional edema scores, but incisional drainage was more frequent in RVM horses. Acute repeat celiotomy through a RVM incision results in similar incisional healing and tensile strength compared with repeat celiotomy through a RVP incision.