VENTRAL HERNIA 559 



Treatment.— After the examination has been made carefully 

 to determine the exact conditions, then it is possible to decide 

 on the method of procedure. Treatment in ventral hernia 

 should be operative. There is very little danger providing 

 the usual precautions are observed in opening the abdominal 

 cavity. 



In ventral hernia without strangulation or incarceration 

 the operation is performed as follows : The animal is given a 

 laxative and fasted for twenty-four hours. The field of 

 operation is shaved and an antiseptic pack applied for the 

 same period. The animal is then given an anesthetic, 

 preferably morphin, placed on the operating table in an 

 advantageous position, the pack removed and the surface 

 painted with tincture of iodin. A longitudinal incision is 

 made immediately over the hernia through the skin and 

 parallel to the rent in the abdominal wall. The hernial 

 contents are returned to the abdominal cavity. It is 

 advisable to open the hernial sac in order to determine the 

 condition of the hernial contents. When they are found 

 normal and no evidence of injury to the structures the hernial 

 sac can be trimmed off with the scissors and the rent in the 

 abdominal wall sutured. If the hernial ring indicates fibrous 

 tissue formation, it is advisable to trim off the margins with 

 a scissors or knife to produce a fresh wound surface for 

 approximation. The abdominal wound is then closed as in 

 laparotomy (see Laparotomy). 



In strangulated ventral hernia treatment should be 

 attempted as early as possible. The same precautions should 

 be observed as above and the contents examined to deter- 

 mine the cause of the strangulation and the condition of the 

 contents of the hernial sac. If the strangulation is produced 

 by a constricted ring it should be enlarged with a probe- 

 pointed knife sufficiently to allow the contents to be returned 

 to the abdominal cavity. The wound in the wall is closed 

 in the usual manner. If the hernial contents have been 

 strangulated and retained until gangrenous then proper 

 treatment should be employed. A section of bowel or omen- 

 tum may be removed without difficulty and successfully 

 when properly done. Adhesions when present should be 



