Hoflund syndrome

Question 1

Aetiology

Answer 1

• Any kind of injury, inflammation, or pressure on the vagus nerve function
• Traumatic reticuloperitonitis (cranio-medial region)
• Reticular abscess (traumatic reticuloperitonitis (cranio-
medial region)
• Abscess in the left liver lobe (subacute rumen acidosis)

Question 2

Pathogenesis

Answer 2

Vagus lesion
Vagus dysfunction
    Central (first vagus excitement)
    Periferal (sympathetic)
Functional stenosis
    Anterior (reticulo-omasal orifice)
    Posterior (pylorus)

blocked passage of feed

disorders (inactivity) of stomach motiliy/rumination/belching

Question 3

Consequences of reticulo-omasal orifice dysfunction (anterior functional stenosis)

Answer 3

• Failure of omasal transport
    o Pumping or sucking function of the omasum ↓ 
    o Reticular groove reflex ↓
    o Ruminal dysfunction
        ▪ Enlargement of rumen

Question 4

Consequences of abomasal transport dysfunction (posterior functional stenosis)

Answer 4

• Failure of abomasal transport
o Omasum and abomasum dysfunction
▪ Enlargement of omasum and abomasum
o Reflux
o Ruminal dysfunction
▪ More liquid and gas accumulation in the rumen
▪ Enlargement of the rumen

Question 5

Common clinical signs

Answer 5

• Course: subacute, chronic (weeks and months)
• General symptoms: weakness, moderate but irreversible weight loss
• Basic clinical values: T: - , P: ↓ and ↑ R: variable
• Skin: exsiccosis, signs of a chronic disease
• Mucosal membranes: pale and dry
• Digestive organs:
• Appetite: +/-
• Rumen: abnormal contractions, rumination and belching ↓, abnormal ruminal content, long-
lasting variable distension
• Faeces: dry and dark → less, pasty and sticky
• Rectal examination: abnormal content within the dilated rumen

Question 6

Diagnosis

Answer 6

• Based on clinical signs
    o Chronic abdominal distension 
    o Chronic weight loss
    o Recurrent bloat
    o Abnormal ruminal movements
    o Typical ruminal content (two types) 
    o Rumenotomy (punction of abscess)
• Abdominocentesis, intraoperative puncture of abscess

Question 7

Differential diagnosis

Answer 7

• Primary and secondary ruminal tympany
• Diseases with (abdominal) pain
• Abomasal diseases

Question 8

Treatment

Answer 8

• Goal: to prolong patient’s live

1. Surgery (reticular or liver abscess)
2. (Antibiotics)
3. Artificial nutrition
4. Permanent rumen fistula
5. (Slaughter)