Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Large Colon Volvulus in a Neonatal Foal Secondary to Atresia Coli.
- Journal:
- Journal of equine veterinary science
- Year:
- 2022
- Authors:
- McGovern, K F & Gough, R L
- Affiliation:
- Donnington Grove Veterinary Group
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A newborn foal, just 18 hours old, was brought in because it was suspected to have a blockage in its intestines. Despite treatment, the foal didn't improve, and the vet suspected a condition called atresia coli, where part of the colon is missing. The owners chose not to proceed with surgery, and sadly, the foal was put to sleep 12 hours after arriving at the clinic. A post-mortem exam confirmed the diagnosis and also revealed that the foal had twisted intestines, which may have been related to the missing part of the colon. The findings suggest that understanding this condition better could help in future cases.
Abstract
An 18 hours old foal presented with a suspected meconium impaction. There was no response to treatment and a tentative diagnosis of atresia coli (AC) was made. Surgical intervention was declined and the foal was euthanized 12 hours after admission. Type 3 AC was confirmed on post-mortem examination, with the colon ending at the left ventral colon. A 1,080 large colon volvulus (LCV) at the sternal flexure was present. It is speculated that AC could predispose the foal to LCV. Histopathology was not performed but would be useful in further cases of AC.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36058503/