Use of the ‘vest‐over‐pants’ overlapping suture technique for equine abdominal hernia closure: 14 cases (2004–2024)

Summary The aim of this observational retrospective case series was to document and describe the use of an overlapping suture technique used to close ventral midline incisional hernias, known as the ‘vest‐over‐pants’ method. The records of fourteen horses at a single institution from March 2004 to October 2024 were reviewed. Cases underwent ventral midline incisional hernia repair using an interrupted overlapping technique (‘vest‐over‐pants’ pattern). A total of 14 repairs were performed with a total of 14 cases where the hernia was surgically corrected and did not reoccur within the study period (100%). On average, the incisional hernia repair occurred 208 days after the last celiotomy (± 11 days), with the mean patient age being 3.4 years (5 months to 9 years). The average post‐operative hospitalisation period was 3 days (2–7 days). The duration of stall confinement varied, with three horses being confined to a stall for 30–45 days, nine horses for 21 days and two for 14 days. Post‐operative pain was observed in one of the 14 cases (7%). In all cases, incisional seroma formation was noted in the first week after surgery. Mild focal incisional drainage was noted in 4 of the 14 cases (29%). The results of this case series display support for the clinical use of a ‘vest‐over‐pants’ pattern to repair ventral midline incisional hernias.