Left Dorsal Displacement

Left dorsal displacement, or nephrosplenic entrapment, is a frequent cause of colic, where the left dorsal and ventral colon become displaced, and then trapped by the spleen laterally, the kidney medially, and the nephrosplenic ligament ventrally. It can be diagnosed by rectal examination. The first line of treatment is intra-venous phenylephrine injection, which acts to contract the spleen, so helping release the trapped colon. This is often combined with gentle exercise to encourage movement of the abdominal contents. Circling on the left rein is considered particularly helpful, as it increases the potential space between the spleen and the body wall, allowing more room for the colon to return to its normal location. If this fails, then general anaesthesia is needed. Replacement of the colon is then attempted by rolling of the horse. If this also fails then surgery is needed to correct the displacement.