Caesarean Section (C-Section/Hysterotomy):
Indication:
• relative foetal oversize: immaturity of the dam, double muscling (e.g. Belgian Blue), genetic mismatching and prolonged gestation (certain sires)
• foetal deformity (e.g. Schistosoma reflexes; ankylosis)
• relative or absolute narrowness of the pelvic canal: immaturity of the dam, traumatic pelvic deformity, e.g. fracture
• foetal emphysema with a narrow birth canal
• foetal malpresentation or posture
• irreducible uterine torsion, uterine rupture
• hypoplasia of the maternal vagina or vulva
• certain valuable pedigree breeding programmes where safe delivery of a viable foetus is paramount and where management precludes the risks associated with a natural delivery
•over-fatdam,particularlyprimiparousheifers, resulting in a narrow pelvic canal and a high risk of a vaginal tear
Contra-Indication
The following will decrease the chance of cow survival:
• cattle in very poor bodily condition(cachectic)
• emphysematous foetus
• uterine infection
Advantages of a caesarean section over
• if the foetus is alive
• often faster and safer
• feasible procedure where embryotomy would be impossible (e.g. cervical
Flank approach
•a standing patient is preferable
• xylazine sedation is contraindicated due to an induced increase of myo material tone and uterine friability, which makes suturing more difficult; also a higher risk of sudden recumbency. However, safety considerations sometimes necessitate sedation
• a uterine relaxant (e.g. clenbuterol HCl) can be slowly injected i.v. to facilitate rotation and partial exteriorisation of the uterus (300–450 μg, depending on the size of the cow)
• administer pre-operative systemic pain relief (NSAIDs)
•if antibiotics are to be used (as is usual), administer a pre-operative systemic dose, e.g. amoxicillin or penicillin plus streptomycin i.m.
• caudal epidural anaesthesia (to reduce abdominal straining and rumen prolapsing through an incision) is optional; 1ml of local anaesthetic per 100kg bodyweight is usually sufficient to reduce straining.
Technique:
• clip, scrub and disinfect the entire paralumbar fossa (last rib to hip); use of sterile drapes is optional (often difficult to use practically in a standing patient)
• make a 30–35cm vertical incision in the middle or caudal third of the left paralumbarfossa incise through the skin only, using a scalpel
•muscle depth can vary considerably between patients(30mmto >100mm); avoid a scalpel; dissect at one point to penetrate the peritoneum (obvious influx of air into the abdominal cavity) before extending the incision ventrally and dorsally; take care not to incise the rumen wall
• haemostasis of the flank vessels is optional; sharp and blunt dissection of the muscle layers using scissors reduces bleeding
• insert a hand into the abdomen, pushing the rumen forward and feeling ventrally and caudally
• make a rapid assessment of the foetal position and the condition of the uterine wall
• bring a greater curvature of the gravid horn towards the abdominal incision by gently but firmly lifting the foetus within the uterus; this is easier if pregnancy is in the left horn
•grasp the uterine wall over the protruding part of the foetus(e.g.limb, hock in anterior presentation) and exteriorise greater curvature of the gravid
horn; if the dorsum of the foetus is towards the incision, the uterus should be rotated within the abdomen
• grasp a foetal leg just below the hock through the uterine wall and maintain it firmly in a flank incision; grasp the fore limb below the carpus if the foetus is in a posterior presentation
•incisetheuterinewall.1)alongthegreatercurvatureadjacent to the limb and towards the tip of the horn with scissors or a finger embryotomy (frenotomy) knife starting at the hock and extending towards the digits (or begin at the carpus in the forelimb, if in a posterior presentation)
• avoid incising maternal caruncles; avoid a scalpel to reduce the risk of damaging the calf
• extend the incision carefully until the limb can be exteriorised without the risk of tearing the uterine wall
•manuallydissectthroughthefoetalmembranestofullyexteriorisethefoot; foetal fluids will begin to drain externally
• if necessary, instruct the assistant to maintain very gentle traction on the theexteriorisedlimbsuficient to maintain the uterine wall in the flank incision
•locatethesecondlimbthroughtheuterine incision and foetal membranes, which are similarly exteriorised; attachment of sterile calving ropes is optional
• ensure that foetal traction is applied gently and in the appropriate direction, usually initially upwards, the ventrally and causally; lengthen the uterine incision, if required, with scissors to avoid any spontaneous tearing of the uterine wall
• practise careful and slow foetal manipulation during extraction, especially in cases of Schistosoma reflexes, muscle contracture and emphysematous calves, to avoid uterine tears
• in case of gross foetal oversize or ankylosis the skin incision may occasion ally require enlargement to 40cm
• permit the umbilical cord to rupture naturally during extraction
• after delivery hold the uterine incision in the flank wound; manually remove any loose protruding portions of the placenta, leaving the remain der in situ
• do not attempt to separate the placenta from maternal caruncles; trimming with scissors may be necessary
• non-crushing uterine clamps (vulsellum forceps) can be used to hold the uterus In position
• intrauterine medication is unnecessary
• while the foetus is being revived and the umbilical cord is checked, undertake uterine repair rapidly
• close the uterus with a continuous Cushing suture, followed by a continu ous Lembert or a modified Cushing (Utrecht uterine suture with buried knots)
• sutures should incorporate serosa and muscular, but not perforate mucosa (risk of contamination); suture knots should be buried
• suture of the uterine wall: start at the caudal ventral commissure of the wound if a single layer closure is intended or cranially if two layers are to be inserted
.Suturematerial: either 5 or 6 metric PGA, polyglactin 7 metric chromic catgut
• swab the incision after closure and check for leaks; rapid uterine contrac.
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