Ways of improving the prognosis of ventral hernias in food animals.

Abstract

Any displacement of abdominal contents through "unnatural" openings in any part of the abdominal wall is termed a ventral hernia (Frank 1970; Keown 1976; Tirgari 1979; McIlwraith 1984). Ventral hernia is an acquired type of hernia whose main cause is trauma inflicted by violent, blunt force such as kicks, blows, horn thrusts and falling objects (Frank 1970; Keown, 1976; McIlwraith, 1984). Previous abdominal wall surgery, abscesses, or degenerative causes may lead to muscular weakness. The stress of pregnancy and parturition then causes the weakened part of the abdominal wall to give way (Oehme 1965; McIlwraith 1984). Muscular tear follows the pathway of least resistance and in most cases it is in the direction of the fibres of the external oblique muscle (Meek et aI1977; Tirgari 1979). Housing and type of management could be contributory predisposing factors that are not well defined.