Changes

==Treatment==

==Treatment==

Initial treatment consists of gastric decompression, fluid therapy and analgesia. See also '''[[Colic, Medical Treatment|Medical Treatment of Colic in Horses]]'''</big>. If epiploic foramen entrapment is suspected, surgical intervention is required. Surgical treatment of the condition is not straightforward due to the inaccessibility of the foramen and the delicate surrounding structures. A ventral midline exploratory coeliotomy is performed and palpation of small intestine (other than the duodenum) in the right dorsal quadrant of the abdomen will confirm diagnosis. The the encarcerated portion of intestine is reduced by gentle traction; decompression may be required prior to reduction if the segment is oedematous or filled with ingesta. Manual dilation of the foramen in order to aid reduction has been suggested by previous authors but this may lead to rupture of the portal vein and great care must be taken when doing so. The viability of the affected intestine is assessed and a resection and anastamosis may be performed if necessary.  

Initial treatment consists of gastric decompression, fluid therapy and analgesia. If epiploic foramen entrapment is suspected, surgical intervention is required. Surgical treatment of the condition is not straightforward due to the inaccessibility of the foramen and the delicate surrounding structures. A ventral midline exploratory coeliotomy is performed and palpation of small intestine (other than the duodenum) in the right dorsal quadrant of the abdomen will confirm diagnosis. The the encarcerated portion of intestine is reduced by gentle traction; decompression may be required prior to reduction if the segment is oedematous or filled with ingesta. Manual dilation of the foramen in order to aid reduction has been suggested by previous authors but this may lead to rupture of the portal vein and great care must be taken when doing so. The viability of the affected intestine is assessed and a resection and anastamosis may be performed if necessary.  

 

==Prognosis==

==Prognosis==

The prognosis following surgical treatment is considered to be poor, especially of the length of bowel affected is long. The prognosis may be altered by the extent of strangulation observed at surgery and the presence of endotoxaemia. Recurrence of epiploic foramen entrapment several months or years later has been reported in a small number of cases.

The prognosis following surgical treatment is considered to be poor, especially of the length of bowel affected is long. The prognosis may be altered by the extent of strangulation observed at surgery and the presence of endotoxaemia. Recurrence of epiploic foramen entrapment several months or years later has been reported in a small number of cases.