2.3.2 Surgery
The foal was taken to surgery for an omphalectomy. Pre-operative
antibiotics were administered and continued post-operatively (procaine
penicillin G 22,000 IU/kg, intramuscularly, q 12 hours and gentamicin
sulfate 6.6 mg/kg, intravenously, q 24 hours; 2 days). An umbilical vein
marsupialization was additionally performed due to the markedly
enlarged, friable umbilical vein extending to the level of the liver
identified at surgery. The procedure was performed as described forCase 1 with the umbilical vein sutured to the right of midline
and subsequent routine ventral midline incision closure.
Butorphanol (0.01 mg/kg, intravenously) was administered as needed for
pain control post-operatively. The foal was discharged two days
post-operatively with instructions to continue antibiotics for another 7
days.