[Rectum diverticulum/perineal hernia surgery through longitudinal contracting of the wall of the rectum]

Older male dogs often exhibit the symptoms of rectum diverticulum and perineal hernia. In order to point out the often common reason of these disorders, the term "rectum diverticulum/perineal hernia complex" has been introduced. In a large group of such patients two methods of surgical correction of this problem were retrospectively evaluated. Only patients were included in this evaluation that were euthanized if recurrence occurred. In 21 patients (group 1) the often performed method of Bojrab was used, both in rectum diverticulum and in perineal hernia operations. In group 2 15 dogs were subjected to the same operation technique, but we performed an additional pleating contraction of the herniated gut wall layers. In case of visible recurrence at an age of at least 11 years the dogs were euthanized. Group 1 showed a postoperative survival time of 3.61 +/- 0.96 years until recurrence, group 2 revealed recurrence not before 4.93 +/- 0.93 years post operationem. The difference is significant (p < 0.05). It is the opinion of the authors that additional longitudinal contracting by pleating of the gut markedly prolonges the point of time when recurrence appears.