Unilateral ovariohysterectomy due to incarcerated uterine horn in a pregnant ewe with ventral hernia

Abstract

Background: Ventral hernias are commonly diagnosed is ewes and other animals, which are likely to occur during pregnancy, due to the increased abdominal content. Hernias in pregnant animals might contain the uterus with dead or live foetus inside. Caesarean section and ovariohysterectomy can be indicated to solve these cases. In case of unilateral ovariohysterectomy, fertility of the animal can be preserved.Objectives: The aim of this article is to present a case, where unilateral ovariohysterectomy was performed on a pregnant ewe which had ventral hernia containing one uterine horn and a dead foetus inside, however the other uterine horn had a viable foetus in the abdomen.Case presentation: A 5-year-old, curly-fleeced breed, pregnant (at 145th day) ewe was presented with the complaint of recumbency, anorexia and focal abdominal swelling. On physical examination the swelling was 30 cm in diameter on the ventral abdomen. Palpation of the swelling was painful and contained a herniated uterine horn with the incarcerated head and extremities of a foetus. Ultrasonography confirmed the dead foetus in the incarcerated uterine horn but the foetus in the other uterine horn was alive. Under general anaesthesia, caesarean section was performed with routine lateral abdominal approach. Appearance of the uterine horn in the hernial sac was ischemic and showed necrosis. Following uterine incision, a dead foetus, necrotic uterine content and placentomes were observed. Considering further fertility of the ewe, unilateral ovariohysterectomy was performed, because the other uterine horn contained a viable foetus inside. The ewe and its newborn lamb were discharged without any complication.Conclusion: Unilateral ovariohysterectomy can be a useful tool in the management of ventral hernias in ewe, when the aim is to preserve the animal's fertility.