ABSTRACT
In horses with colic, the abdomen is usually explored through a ventral midline incision, although other approaches can be indicated according to the location of the lesion and anticipated procedure. It is critical that the surgeon develops a system for the approach and subsequent abdominal exploration that is simple and consistent, so that familiarity with normal anatomy is acquired, deviations from the norm are easily recognized, lesions can be corrected quickly, and normal anatomic arrangements are preserved. This involves standing on the same side of the abdomen for every surgery, which is usually the left side of the horse for right handed surgeons, following a consistent order of exploration, and arranging exteriorized bowel so that it can be readily traced in its normal anatomic relationship, and then replaced easily and correctly in the abdomen (Figure 26-1).
