Comparison of ventriculotomy closure with and without a coelomic fat patch in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

Removal of foreign bodies from the ventriculus in birds may necessitate ventriculotomy. Complications with this intervention include leakage and adhesion formation. To investigate if the use of a coelomic fat patch and a tension-relieving suture in addition to a simple interrupted pattern would improve the healing process after ventriculotomy, 2 groups of 9 Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) underwent ventriculotomy. In group 1, only simple-interrupted and tension-relieving sutures were used for closure of the ventriculotomy. In group 2, a coelomic fat patch from the surrounding adipose tissue was applied to the incision site in addition to the sutures. All quail recovered normally and were considered clinically healthy after surgery. Three birds from each group were euthanatized at days 7, 14, and 21 after surgery. On histologic examination, the suture techniques used for closure of the ventriculotomy led to minimal inflammation of the surrounding tissues in both groups. Serosal inflammation was significantly greater in group 2 birds that had the adipose patch at closure compared with group 1 birds. Therefore, the use of a coelomic fat patch to cover the site of ventriculotomy did not result in an improved healing process and its use is not recommended in quail.