Surgical management of the trauma-induced colocutaneous fistula in a horse

Abstract

There are few published reports of equine enterocutaneous fistulae, and they are almost always related to umbilical hernias. Colocutaneous fistula as a result of a penetrating wound has not been reported in horse. In this case report, surgical treatment of a traumatic colocutaneous fistula in an 8-year-old stallion is described. Under inhalation anesthesia, the fistula was removed completely, and the resultant defect on the left ventral colonic wall was closed. The defect of abdominal wall was closed routinely. The horse regained his previous performance, and no surgical complication was observed at 1 year’s follow-up.