Surgical Management of the Trauma-Induced Abomaso-Cutaneous Fistula in a Lamb

Case Description:

 The most important causes of abomasal fistulation have been described in association with umbilical hernia and infection and trauma. A 2-month-old male lamb with an open orifice on the ventral abdomen was referred to the veterinary teaching hospital (VTH) of Lorestan University.

Clinical Findings:

In this case, the lamb had the abomaso-cutaneous fistula due to unknown penetrating trauma. According to the owner's claim, the above-mentioned non-painful orifice was occurred in the ventral midline due to the rupture of abdominal swelling approximately 45 days ago. On physical examination, heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature were normal, but CBC showed slight neutrophilia and mild anemia.Treatment and Outcomes- After local anesthesia around the fistula, the abomasum adhering to the ventral muscular ring was dissected and closed. Then the muscular ring was closed in a vertical mattress pattern and subcutaneous tissue and skin were sutured in the usual method.

Clinical Relevance:

 During the fistula examination through the surgical operation, a muscular ring surrounded by fibrous margins was observed with partial abomasal herniation from the muscular defect. Seemed that adhesion between the abomasum and subcutaneous tissue had prevented the development of diffused peritonitis. Early proper surgical intervention is useful for the treatment of trauma-induced abomaso-cutaneous fistulae in ruminants.