Acquired jejunal pseudodiverticula in a yearling Arabian filly.
Authors: Southwood Louise L, Cohen Jennifer, Busschers Evita, Habecker Perry
Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Acquired Jejunal Pseudodiverticula in a Young Arabian A yearling Arabian filly presented with acute colic following a two-week period of inappetence and weight loss, which prompted surgical exploration revealing an unusual pathology: approximately three metres of thickened, oedematous jejunum containing both an intussusception and numerous pseudodiverticula, managed through resection and jejunojejunostomy. Histopathological examination confirmed proliferative enteropathy with pseudodiverticula formation alongside jejunal muscular hypertrophy, though the specific aetiology remained unclear. The case is clinically significant because the diverticula appeared to be acquired rather than congenital and were not associated with the classic muscular hypertrophy typically documented in equine small intestinal diverticular disease, expanding our understanding of this condition in young horses. At one-year follow-up, the filly demonstrated excellent long-term prognosis with no postoperative gastrointestinal complications, suggesting that surgical resection with end-to-end anastomosis can offer a viable treatment pathway. For practitioners evaluating young horses presenting with unexplained chronic weight loss or recurrent colic, this report underscores the value of considering acquired small intestinal pathology even when presentation does not align with classical muscular hypertrophy patterns, and supports proceeding to surgical intervention when conservative management fails.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Acquired small intestinal pseudodiverticula should be considered in young horses presenting with acute colic and chronic inappetence/weight loss, even without classic muscular hypertrophy signs
- •Jejunojejunostomy can be a viable surgical treatment option with good long-term outcomes for this condition
- •The exact etiology of acquired pseudodiverticula remains unclear; maintain high clinical suspicion in cases with unexplained chronic colic in yearlings
Key Findings
- •Multiple acquired jejunal pseudodiverticula occurred in a yearling Arabian filly without association to congenital defect or classic muscular hypertrophy
- •3 meters of affected jejunum with intussusception and diverticula were successfully resected and anastomosed
- •No postoperative gastrointestinal complications occurred with excellent long-term prognosis at 1-year follow-up