Laparoscopic evaluation of umbilical structures was performed safely and quickly in young calves and allowed complete evaluation of intra-abdominal umbilical structures and may, therefore, be a useful adjunct to physical examination and ultrasound to fully assess the abdomen in calves.

Level IV, technical note.

Scarring in recessive epidermolysis bullosa results in disability through hand deformities. Surgical treatment is complicated by technical and anaesthesiological problems due to the fragility of the skin and mucosa. In its dystrophic form epidermolysis bullosa leads to pseudosyndactyly and finger and palm contracture resulting in a "closed hand". Surgical treatment consists of resecting the contractures and opening the inter-digit webs, the uncovered areas healing under a close tulle gras dressing. Our technique differs from techniques which have already been reported. The dressing is changed only once a week, reducing the number of anaesthetics and allowing the child to attend our Day Hospital. Healing is complete within five weeks. Prevention of recurrence avoids the necessity of further surgery before five years of age. Post-operative open-hand splinting is well tolerated, delaying further contracture. Surgery is undertaken sometimes under general anaesthesia but more often under regional anaesthesia. We report the results of our experience.

No abstract

Summary A 9‐year‐old Arabian stallion was presented for evaluation of recurrent colic problems of 2 years' duration. These colic episodes were associated with a right sided abdominal distension. An exploratory laparotomy revealed a colonic diverticulum that was resected en bloc. Two days later, following signs of acute colic, a second laparotomy showed incarceration of the distal jejunum into a mesodiverticular band combined with haemorrhage of a mesenteric arterial branch. In addition, an abnormally short jejunum (10 m) was also observed. An end‐to‐end jejunojejunostomy was performed. Following surgery the horse developed septic peritonitis, ptyalism and became dysphagic. Ten days after the second surgery, an infected oesophageal diverticulum causing regional inflammation was diagnosed endoscopically and euthanasia was performed. Post mortem examination showed a 40 cm long diverticulum lateral to the oesophagus. Histology suggested a congenital nature of the colonic and oesophageal diverticuli.