Ultrasonographic Diagnosis of Canine Omphalocele with Hernial Rupture - A Case Report
Department of Animal Reproduction, College of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, Brazil
Omphalocele is an abnormality of the fetus' abdominal wall, located on the insertion of the cord and characterized by the absence of the abdominal muscles, fascia and skin, forming a hernia. The aim of this report is to describe the ultrasound findings of a canine fetus presenting with omphalocele and extravasation of fetal abdominal contents to amniotic cavity. A bitch English bulldog, adult and pluripara with no history of gestational abnormalities, was forwarded to gestational ultrasonography at 58 days' gestation, to evaluate the maternal fetal viability and estimating a probable date for delivery. Ultrasonography was performed after abdominal trichotomy of female and physical restraint of the same, using machine Siemens S2000 and multifrequency linear transducer of 9.0 MHz. By the ultrasound, it was observed that the bitch has more than three fetuses, and the fetuses already showed acceleration and deceleration process (average heartbeat 140–23 beats per minute), compatible with late pregnancy and proximity to the delivery. It was possible to visualize the fetus located near the delivery canal showing discontinuity of the abdominal wall with the presence of abdominal tissue in amniotic cavity region, compatible with omphalocele and rupture of the hernia sac. Cesarean section was suggested and omphalocele with rupture of hernia sac was confirmed during this procedure, with the affected fetus dying within minutes after birth. The sonographic diagnosis was of paramount importance for the detection and orientation of subsequent procedures.