Abstract
ABSTRACT Non-strangulated acquired hernias in stallions are rare, especially when the herniated content is not intestinal loops. Thus, the aim of the current study is to describe a case of acquired non-strangulated inguinoscrotal hernia in a stallion, whose herniated content was the omentum. The patient was a Criollo stallion with history of rhabdomyolysis, laminitis and bilateral scrotal volume increase observed in the left scrotal region. The animal presented pain in both thoracic limbs, abnormal blood test, especially hypoproteinemia, and mild pain during palpation in the left inguinal ring region. Hydrocele secondary to hypoproteinemia was suspected. After admission, the animal showed signs of acute abdomen, which were clinically reversed. With this, the animal was subjected to ultrasound examination of the scrotal region, whose findings suggested non-strangulated inguinal hernia, although the content could not be identified. Surgical treatment was chosen in order to identify the herniated content and remove the left testicle. Access to the affected scrotum was performed, in which the presence of fluid and a portion of the omentum was observed surrounding the testis and adhering to it. The animal was discharged after he recovered from the surgery and from laminitis. During the breeding season, the stallion remained with a herd of mares for natural mating. After 15 months of surgery, the animal was reassessed and showed no active signs of inflammatory and degenerative processes in the remaining testis. On this occasion, a pregnancy diagnosis was also performed, and all the mares were pregnant. It is concluded that the presence of omentum as a herniated content does not represent a surgical emergency but can make the reproductive prognosis reserved. In addition, removal of the affected testicle can benefit the spermatogenesis of the remaining testicle.
Highlights
Acquired inguinoscrotal hernias in stallions are diagnosed in approximately 3% (Kovac et al, 2018) to 7% (Van der Velden, 1988) of horses with colic syndrome
The herniation of other intestinal loops or other organs is rarely reported; the reported cases mainly refer to young animals (Ivens et al, 2009; Robinson and Carmalt, 2009; Cousty et al, 2010) or to horses who were recently exposed to orchiectomy procedures (Schumacher, 2006; Ivens et al, 2009)
When the diagnosis of inguinosctrotal hernia is confirmed, treatment is usually surgical (Van der Velden, 1988; Wilderjans et al, 2009; Kovac et al, 2018), and consists of opening the tunica vaginalis to evaluate the viability of the herniated content, with orchiectomy being often indicated in these cases (Wilderjans et al, 2009)
Summary
Acquired inguinoscrotal hernias in stallions are diagnosed in approximately 3% (Kovac et al, 2018) to 7% (Van der Velden, 1988) of horses with colic syndrome. The blood count was repeated 3 days after the therapy; results showed persistent hypoproteinemia (5g/dL) and thrombocytosis (243,000/μL), whereas other parameters returned to physiological values inherent to the species At this moment, the horse presented moderate pain episodes, suggesting abdominal origin. Ultrasound evaluation was performed in the scrotal region and it was observed that the parenchyma of the left testis had low echogenicity and heterogeneous pattern, which suggested testicular degeneration. The first semen collection and evaluation were conducted 45 days after surgery due to the incidence of laminitis It was performed with artificial vagina, by placing the animal in quadrupedal position, without mating. The right testis was subjected to ultrasound examination; despite the microlithiasis areas, the Figure 3 shows the stabilization of the testicular degenerative process and spermatic cord inflammation, comparing the hospitalization period and the last evaluation.
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