Ultrasound diagnosis of reticular diaphragmatic hernia in bovines

A reticular diaphragmatic hernia is a congenital or acquired alteration resulting from protrusion of the reticulum into the thoracic cavity. In ruminants, lesions to the diaphragmatic muscle, due to penetration of sharp metallic objects, is the most common cause of this disease. Therefore, given the low number of reports on this disease in the bovine species, the current study aims to describe the clinical, laboratory, and anatomopathological findings, with special emphasis on the ultrasound diagnosis of five cattle with reticular diaphragmatic hernia. The laboratory data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation, and clinical, ultrasound, and pathological findings were evaluated using descriptive statistics. Clinically the animals exhibited varying degrees of dehydration, abdominal distension, tympany, and alterations in ruminal motility, in addition to cardiorespiratory alterations such as murmur, dyspnea, and muffling of lung sounds. The laboratory examination showed neutrophilic leukocytosis and hyperfibrinogenemia. The ultrasonographic images demonstrated reticulum inside the thoracic cavity adjacent to the lung and heart, although no reticular motility was observed. The pathological lesions confirmed the findings of the ultrasound exams. Thus, the current study demonstrated that ultrasonography was efficient in diagnosing reticular diaphragmatic hernia in the bovine species.