Surgical management of atresia coli in a Darehshouri foal

Atresia coli is a rare congenital abnormality that result in an inability to pass feces since birth. Signs of colic progressed during 24 hours of first life in this defect. The equine large intestine consists of the following segments: cecum, large colon, and small colon. Colon is the segment of intestine that most often involved (Atresia coli). The popular theory related to the pathogenesis of intestinal atresia is vascular accident. If the foal can’t pass meconium during 12 hours after birth, it could be described as ‘retained meconium’. Atresia coli can be diagnosed by clinical signs, physical examinations and diagnostic imaging. Surgical prognosis of atresia coli is poor. In this study a Darehshouri foal was presented with signs of colic and absence of meconium repelling. The final diagnosis of partial agenesis of the right dorsal colon (type III colon atresia) was confirmed during laparotomy. End to end anastomosis between remained right dorsal and transverse colon was done.