ABSTRACT
A five-year-old healthy mule was referred with enlarged volume in the ventral right side of the abdomen, with 25cm in length from the inguinal region to precrural fold, developed 60 days previously due to a traumatic confrontation with a bull. The mass had no pain and was reductible on palpation and the ultrasonographic examination revealed large intestine surrounded by a hyperecoic ring. Based on these findings, the diagnosis was non incarcerated inguinal hernia. Under general anesthesia, the patient was submitted to surgery by direct approach on the inguinal region, when the cecum was seen emerging from a 10cm overture of the external inguinal ring and projecting to a subcutaneous fold cranially to the ring. This fold and the external inguinal ring were opened to facilitate the reposition of the cecum back to the abdomen. Eighteen days after the surgery the patient was discharged with a satisfactory recovery. Based on this report, it is possible to conclude that females can develop indirect non incarcerated inguinal hernias with the involvement of the cecum with good prognosis. Based on the consulted literature, this is the first report of this type of hernia in a female equine.
Keywords:
mule; external inguinal ring; abdominal trauma
