Introduction

• Rectovestibular/vaginal injuries have a similar pathogenesis to third degree perineal lacerations   Perineum: trauma  , ie injury during foaling, but natural or manually assisted retraction of the foal's foot from the rectum during parturition leaves a fistula between the rectum and the caudal reproductive tract without destroying the perineal body   Vagina: trauma      .
• Surgical preparation, anesthesia, principles of repair and post-operative management of these injuries are the same as for third degree perineal lacerations   Perineum: trauma - repair  but there are different surgical repair techniques available to the surgeon.

Uses

• Surgical repair of rectovestibular/vaginal injuries   Perineum: trauma      Vagina: trauma  .

Advantages

• Can be performed under standing sedation   Anesthesia: standing chemical restraint  .
• Good success rate.

Disadvantages

• Technically demanding.

Requirements

Preparation

Procedure

Aftercare

Outcomes

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Climent F, Ribera T, Arguelles D, Nomen C & Prades M (2009) Modified technique for the repair of third-degree rectovaginal lacerations in mares. Vet Rec 164 (13), 393-396 PubMed.