Case Report: Recurrence of a Gastrosplenic Ligament Entrapment

• Surgery was indicated based on deteriorating signs of gastrointestinal function and increasing signs of pain.
• A permanent defect remains within the gastrosplenic ligament once the small intestinal lesion has been reduced.
• This case highlights the possibility of gastrosplenic ligament reentrapment after surgical reduction of the lesion.

A 12-year-old American Quarter Horse gelding presented for evaluation of colic signs. The patient was diagnosed with a gastrosplenic entrapment at surgery. The entrapment was reduced, a jejunoileostomy was performed removing approximately 1m of jejunum and distal ileum, and the patient recovered uneventfully from anesthesia. The patient was discharged 12 days postoperatively. The same horse represented 17 months after the initial surgery for evaluation of signs of colic. A small intestinal strangulation was diagnosed based on the clinical and laboratory examination findings. It was elected to euthanize the horse. Necropsy examination diagnosed a gastrosplenic ligament entrapment of the mid-to-distal jejunum.