Short‐ and long‐term postoperative complications and outcomes after umbilical vein marsupialisation in 11 foals

Summary Background Reports describing short‐ and long‐term postoperative complications and outcomes after umbilical vein marsupialisation in foals are limited and nondetailed. Objectives The objective of the study was to report surgical treatment, short‐ and long‐term complications and outcomes in foals with umbilical vein infection with or without liver abscessation treated with marsupialisation of the umbilical vein. Study design Retrospective clinical study, short case series. Methods Medical records were reviewed (between 2014 and 2022, four referral centres) to identify foals ( n = 11) that were treated for umbilical remnant infection and had surgery to perform marsupialisation of the umbilical vein. Results Short‐term complications encountered were postoperative myositis ( n = 1), herniation of the linea alba ( n = 1), stoma necrosis ( n = 1), pneumonia ( n = 3) and septic arthritis ( n = 1). The foal with septic polyarthritis was euthanised due to poor athletic prognosis. Long term, four foals required a second surgical procedure due to herniation at the marsupialisation site ( n = 3) or midline incision ( n = 1). The omphalophlebitis was resolved in 10 of the 11 foals with a follow‐up time from 5 to 88 months. Main limitations The variability of management related to the duration of study time, number of surgeons and multiple institutions may have limited this study. Conclusions Marsupialisation of the umbilical vein can be a viable surgical option if en‐bloc resection does not allow the removal of all infected tissues. Our main complication was herniation at the stoma site. Compared with simple en‐bloc resection, marsupialisation may require further veterinary treatment and increased associated costs.