VENTRAL HERNIA 705 



adhesions form between the walls of the sac and its contents. 

 These bands of fibrous tissue firmly attach the bowel to the sac and 

 it now becomes impossible to return the gut to the belly. 



Ventral hernia may appear on any part of the abdominal wall, 

 but is seen more commonly on the inner side of the flank, and the 

 sac may bulge back into the scrotal region and give a close resem- 

 blance to an inguinal hernia. In some cases the rupture passes out 

 through the same opening as the large blood-vessels of the hind 

 leg, and a rupture of this type is properly classed as a femoral her- 

 nia. 



Treatment. — As in other forms of rupture, the treatment of a 

 ventral hernia is purely surgical. Results, however, in the case of 

 these unusual ruptures are not so good as in the other forms. 

 There is usually difficulty in getting the bowel loose from the walls 

 of the sac and considerable difficulty in securing a proper closure of 

 the opening. Where this form of rupture occurs as the result of 

 an accident to an animal that is in fit condition for market, and 

 which does not possess unusual value for breeding purposes, it is 

 perhaps as good a plan as any to send the hog to market rather than 

 to try and relieve the condition by operation. 



In operation for repair of a ventral rupture it is necessary to 

 go through the same preparatory steps as in other classes of rup- 

 ture. Knives, needles, sutures, and everything else that are to be 

 used should be carefully boiled and kept in an antiseptic solution 

 when not in use. The hands should be very carefully scrubbed, and 

 the skin over the ruptured sac given the same thorough cleansing as 

 in the case of a scrotal or umbilical hernia. 



An incision is now carefully made into the sac and the fingers of 

 one hand introduced. With these fingers the bands of adhesion 

 that attach the bowel to the sac are broken down and the gut forced 

 back into the belly. The hog should be held in such position as 

 will make this as easy as possible. The best position usually is to 

 have the animal on its back with the hind legs slightly elevated. 



After the gut has been returned to its normal position a ligature 

 should be passed around the sac as close to the abdominal wall as 

 possible, firmly tied, and the empty portion of the sac cut off. 

 Several closely placed stitches should now be taken in the muscles 

 surrounding the hole and these tightly tied, so as to close the edges 



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