Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Meckel's diverticulum as a cause of colic: 2 cases with different morphological features.
- Journal:
- Tijdschrift voor diergeneeskunde
- Year:
- 2010
- Authors:
- Verwilghen, Denis et al.
- Affiliation:
- Equine Clinic
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Meckel's diverticulum is a rare condition that can happen in horses when a part of their intestines doesn't develop properly during pregnancy. This can lead to problems like colic, which is abdominal pain, especially if the intestines get blocked or twisted around this abnormal tissue. The study looked at two older horses that had this condition, each showing different physical characteristics. It's important for veterinarians to consider this issue when older horses show signs of abdominal pain or have repeated episodes of colic. The report suggests that recognizing this condition can help in diagnosing and treating affected horses effectively.
Abstract
Persistent Meckel's diverticulum is an uncommon embryonic developmental anomaly of the distal small intestine created by a portion of the vitelline duct adjacent to intestine that remains patent. This portion can form a diverticulum (Meckel's diverticulum) or a fibrous band, called vitelloumbilical band, and can be associated with colic after local impaction or strangulation of the small intestine around the remnant. This report describes two cases of Meckel's diverticulum with different morphological features in older horses. This congenital disorder should be considered as a reason for abdominal pain, even in the older horse, and should be included in the differential diagnosis of acute abdominal pain and recurrent moderate colic.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20536075/