[Evaluation of a non-surgical adhesive technique for the treatment of umbilical hernia in piglets].

Abstract

The study aim was to assess the success of a novel adhesive technique in piglets with umbilical herniation in comparison to standard surgical procedure as well as no treatment.In a pilot phase, piglets with umbilical hernias were observed up to weaning and remained either untreated, underwent surgery or were treated by application of a 2.5 cm wide adhesive tape diagonally across the hernial orifice following the reposition of the umbilical protrusion. In accordance to the success rate, an appropriate sample size was calculated for a subsequent study, in which 50 affected piglets were systematically treated with the new taping technique and compared with 50 affected piglets remaining untreated. Mortality, daily weight gains, widths of hernia orifices and hernia sac sizes were recorded.In the pilot phase, mortality in untreated animals was 24%. In 52% of the surviving animals the umbilical hernias resolved spontaneously by weaning. In the taped piglet group 9% of the animals died and 90% of hernias resolved by weaning. Following umbilical hernia surgery the mortality rate amounted to 35% and the recurrence rate was 63%. For this reason, surgery was not performed in the subsequent main study.The systematic comparison of the taping technique with an untreated control group in the main study resulted in a mortality rate of 20% in the control group and 8% in the experimental group up to week 15 of life. The healing rate up to fattening (survived and without umbilical hernia) was 50% in the control group and 84% in the experimental group (p=0.01). Animals that were included in the trial with a two-finger wide hernia orifice or / and a walnut sized hernia sac were significantly more likely to have to be taped up to three times. The size of the hernia orifice had a negative influence on the daily weight gain during the suckling period (p=0.02).Approximately half of all umbilical hernias resolve spontaneously. The loss and recurrence rate after umbilical hernia surgery is high. A taping technique for reposition of the hernia sac in the early suckling piglet period can significantly improve the healing rate of umbilical hernias.A taping technique for treating umbilical hernias during the suckling piglet period can significantly reduce losses due to this condition.