Surgically managed incarcerated umbilical hernias in calves hold favorable prognosis: a retrospective analysis of 19 cases (2004-2021).

Objective: To describe the clinical signs, surgical management, postoperative complications, and outcomes following herniorrhaphy in calves with incarcerated umbilical hernias.

Methods: This was a retrospective case series. The electronic medical record databases of 2 veterinary teaching hospitals were searched to identify the records of calves that underwent herniorrhaphy for correction of irreducible umbilical hernias between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2021. Data collected included signalment, medical history, results of clinical examination and laboratory testing, ultrasonographic and surgical findings (incarceration vs strangulation), postoperative complications, and outcome.

Results: 19 calves with incarcerated umbilical hernias underwent surgical correction. The incarcerated gastrointestinal tract was identified as the abomasum in 11 calves and jejunum in 8 calves. In 9 calves, the intraoperative identification of strangulation led to 4 intestinal resections and 4 partial abomasectomies, with 1 calf being euthanized intraoperatively. Postoperative complications were reported in 3 calves that underwent intestinal resection. Sixteen calves (84%) survived to discharge and had a median survival time of 1,995 days after surgery. No statistically significant differences were observed between calves with or without gastrointestinal tract strangulation in the short-term survival rate, survival time, or number of lactations after surgery.

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that herniorrhaphy for incarcerated umbilical hernias in calves is associated with a favorable prognosis. Postoperative complications are, however, more frequent in calves with strangulated gastrointestinal tract.

Clinical relevance: Surgical intervention for incarcerated umbilical hernias in calves generally yields a positive prognosis, particularly in the absence of gastrointestinal tract strangulation, highlighting the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment.