Hernioplasty with Peritoneal Flap for the Surgical Treatment of Umbilical Hernia in Swine

Simple Summary A congenital umbilical hernia was diagnosed in eight swine aged between 4 and 12 weeks, who underwent a clinical examination following the finding of a mass protruding from the umbilical regions. Palpation showed the presence of a fibrous and regular hernial ring allowing the diagnosis of an umbilical hernia. This condition was successfully surgically corrected under general and local anesthesia by associating with traditional herniorrhaphy, a hernioplasty with the use of an autologous peritoneal flap as a prosthesis. The surgeries were successfully conducted, and follow-ups carried out at 7, 30 and 60 days postoperatively showed the absence of recurrence, confirming the complete healing of the lesions and the functional recovery of the herniated organs. This surgical approach has been shown to be highly effective in the treatment of umbilical hernia of swine because it has allowed for providing considerable mechanical resistance to the herniorrhaphy performed, avoiding the use of synthetic prosthetic materials. Synthetic meshes are histocompatible but are foreign bodies that make the surgical wound sensitive to bacterial colonization. The autologous peritoneal flap ensures excellent healing results thanks to its ability to evoke the inflammatory response by promoting the proliferation of blood vessels and the migration of defense and reaction cells for the formation of granulation tissue. Background: Umbilical hernia is one of the most common developmental defects in swine, producing large economic losses for farmers, forced to slaughter animals at a younger age and therefore at a lower weight to prevent fatal complications. This study describes a surgical technique to repair umbilical hernia through the use of autologous prostheses, allowing recovery of the affected animals; Methods: After a general examination of the swine and examination of the lesions, the swine were anesthetized and underwent surgery. The surgery was performed by combining the traditional herniorrhaphy with the inclusion and fixation of a peritoneal flap obtained from the incision of the same hernial sac; Results: Follow-ups were carried out at 7, 30 and 60 days and demonstrated healing in all of the treated subjects; Conclusions: The use of this surgical technique allows for providing resistance to herniorrhaphy performed through the use of a cost-free autologous biomaterial prosthesis, with excellent tissue compatibility. This might allow for reducing significantly the rate of relapses and eliminating the risk of rejection.