Congenital scrotal hernia
Keywords: hernia, foal, ultrasound, surgeryA foal, approximately 30 days old was presented with a scrotal hernia. Ultrasonography was used to verify the presence and severity of the hernia.
Image size: 1800 x 1130 px
When intestines become entrapped within the vaginal cavity, edema and peritoneal fluid usually accumulate around the herniated intestines. Together with the movement of intestinal contents, the ultrasonographic contrast provided by this fluid facilitates a diagnosis of an intestinal hernia.
Although this initially appeared to be a left-sided hernia, intestines had actually herniated into the right vaginal cavity, displacing the left side of the scrotum far out to the left side. This had created the initial impression of a left-sided hernia.
Copyright: Dr N. J. Vos email: Klaas_Vos@Hotmail.com.
Image size: 1200 x 1156px
Herniorrhaphy was performed. The head of the foal is at the top of the image above. The left testicle (green ring) was removed and the hernia on the right side was reduced via the abdominal route. A bizarre turn of events occurred during herniorrhaphy when the owner insisted that the testicle on that side not be removed! Despite warnings of potentially compromised blood supply and the heritability of scrotal hernias, the owners wishes were respected.
As reviewed by C.A. Ragle in Advances in Equine Laparoscopy (ISBN: 978-0-470-95877-3) scrotal hernias appear to be heritable in horses although a heritability coefficient has not been established as it has in pigs. This is complicated by the fact that scrotal hernias are more common in some breeds (Quarter horses and draft breeds) than others. That fact alone supports a heritable basis for the condition.
