Treatment of an abdominal wound with puncture of the left ventral colon in a gelding

Summary This report details the treatment of an abdominal wound with puncture of the large intestine and associated complications in an adult horse. The wound was located over the left eleventh costochondral junction. The gelding was referred to the hospital 48 h after the initial injury and presented with pyrexia and dullness. Septic peritonitis was confirmed by abdominocentesis. During exploratory celiotomy, a puncture of the left ventral colon with minimal abdominal contamination was identified. The edges of the penetration site in the left ventral colon were excised, the defect closed in two layers and the abdomen was lavaged. During the post‐operative period, the horse showed further signs of septic peritonitis. This was treated with abdominal lavage under standing sedation. Other complications included fever and surgical site infection of the celiotomy incision. The latter was treated with systemic antimicrobials and negative pressure wound therapy. The horse was discharged 12 weeks after surgery and no long‐term complications were reported up to 27 months post injury.