Mesh repair of a large ventral hernia with interposition of omentum in a calf: a case report

A one-month-old, Piedmontese female calf was admitted to the Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, for repair of a large ventral hernia. A large ventral hernia, approximately 20 cm long and 15 cm large was noticed extending from 3 cm caudal to the umbilicus down to the pubis. At ultrasonography the hernia content was represented by small intestine and omentum and no adhesions to the hernial sac could be detected. The hernial sac was composed by skin only. Because of the large dimensions of the defect and the economic value of the animal, surgical correction was recommended to the owner. A prosthetic implant with a polypropylene mesh was elected due to the dimension of the abdominal defect. The implant was placed intra-abdominally with the interposition of the omentum between the mesh and the underlying viscera. Two and six months after surgery follow-ups were performed and a positive outcome was confirmed. This is the first report of ventral hernia repair in large animals that combines the use of a tension-free polypropylene mesh with the interposition of the omentum between the viscera and the mesh. This procedure is safe, cost-effective and not associated with major complications.