Three barriers protect a mare’s reproductive tract: the vulvar seal, vestibulovaginal sphincter and cervix. Any functional defect to these structures could impede fertility; particularly the lips which form part of the seal when parted and should lie apposed to each other when closed together appositionally against one another; an intact cervix prevents air entering her vagina upon parting lips.
The broad ligament is a strong layer of fibrous tissue that holds much of the reproductive tract in place in the abdomen. The cervix serves as a “doorway to the uterus”, opening when pregnant or during heat and then closing to maintain sterility in the uterus. At ovulation time, an infundibulum (fimbria) picks up and transports eggs down from ovaries into oviducts where they will eventually end up.
A multiparous Thoroughbred mare was brought for evaluation of a rectal tear sustained during parturition. The tear was 30 cm cranial to the anus and extended approximately 15 cm longitudinally along her small colon in the 4-6 o’clock position when viewed perrectum. Feces was removed from perineal area before aseptically prepping tear with four stay sutures through anal sphincter; vertical transection (12 o’clock); accurate apposition of tear margins achieved using Allis tissue forceps before two layer stapled primary closure was applied with two layer stapled primary closure applied along with oversewn primary closure with all sutures oversewn continuous oversewn primary closure applied and staples sewn continuous pattern.