Retrospective case study of fetal mummification in cows that did not respond to prostaglandin F2alpha treatment.

Mummification of bovine fetuses is an uncommon condition, and cows do not always respond to treatment with prostaglandin F2alpha. The objective of the present retrospective and descriptive case study was to determine the conception rate and survival time of nonresponsive, prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha)-treated cows (n = 14), following hysterotomy or medical treatment and manual removal. Animal records from 1990 to 2005 from the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vétérinaire (CHUV) of the Université de Montréal were studied. Inclusion criteria were the nonexpulsion of the mummified fetus following PF2alpha treatment and absence of concomitant conditions upon physical examination. Of the animals included in the study, 36% (n = 5) became pregnant after extraction of the mummified fetus by hysterotomy and 0% conceived after medical treatment and manual extraction. In this study, hysterotomy represented an effective approach for extracting mummified fetuses from cows that did not respond to PF2alpha treatment.

Comparison of oral and subcutaneous administration of buprenorphine and meloxicam for preemptive analgesia in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of preoperative PO and SC administration of buprenorphine and meloxicam for prevention of postoperative pain-associated behaviors in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy. DESIGN: Randomized controlled study. ANIMALS: 51 female cats (4 to 60 months old; weight range, 1.41 to 4.73 kg [3.1 to 10.4 lb]). PROCEDURE: Cats received 1 of 5 treatments at the time of anesthetic induction: buprenorphine PO (0.01 mg/kg [0.0045 mg/lb]; n = 10), buprenorphine SC (0.01 mg/kg; 10), meloxicam SC (0.3 mg/kg 10.14 mg/lb]; 10), meloxicam PO (0.3 mg/kg; 10), or 0.3 mL of sterile saline (0.9% NaCI) solution SC (control group; 11). Sedation scores and visual analog scale and interactive visual analog scale (IVAS) pain-associated behavior scores were assigned to each cat 2 hours before and at intervals until 20 hours after surgery. RESULTS: Cats receiving meloxicam PO or SC had significantly lower IVAS scores (2.91 and 2.02, respectively), compared with IVAS scores for cats receiving buprenorphine PO (755). Pain-associated behavior scores for cats administered buprenorphine or meloxicam PO or SC preoperatively did not differ significantly from control group scores. Rescue analgesia was not required by any of the cats receiving meloxicam, whereas 3 of 10 cats receiving buprenorphine PO, 2 of 10 cats receiving buprenorphine SC, and 1 of 11 cats receiving the control treatment required rescue analgesia. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: On the basis of pain-associated behavior scores, cats receiving meloxicam PO or SC before ovariohysterectomy appeared to have less pain after surgery than those receiving buprenorphine PO preoperatively.

[Surgical and conservative methods for removing mummified fetuses in cattle]. / Chirurgische und konservative Methode zur Entfernung von abgestorbenen Feten beim Rind.

The purpose of this study was to describe the findings and therapy in 4 cows and 1 heifer with mummified fetus. All animals were admitted at the clinic after several unsuccessful therapies with prostaglandin F2alpha and local uterine infusions. All animals were in good condition. In case 1, diagnosis of mummified fetus could not be confirmed after manual rectal palpation and ultrasonography whereas cases 2, 4, 5 all had mummified fetus. In case 3, the fetus was in maceration. Initial therapy consisted of administration of prostaglandin F2alpha and prostaglandin E2 followed by repeated administration of prostaglandin E2. Mummies (length from apex to rump 13-32 cm) could be taken out within 3 to 6 days per vias naturales in cases 2, 4, 5 and in case 3, bones (maximal length 4 cm) could be unhinged. The structure in the uterus of case 1 could not be mobilised and was consequently removed under sight control using colpotomy followed by hysterotomy. Animals 2, 3, 4 and 5 were pregnant on the occasion of telephone inquiry. On the basis of our results, we recommend the conservative medical therapy with PGE2 for cases of mummified fetus. Colpotomy and hysterotomy are reserved as therapy feasible if the use of prostaglandin E2 is not successful.

An evaluation of the haemostatic suture in hysterotomy closure in the mare.

This study was designed to evaluate the haemostatic suture as a means of preventing haemorrhage from the hysterotomy in mares after caesarean section. At 2 university hospitals 1982-1994, 48 mares had caesarean section for dystocia, 10 as an elective, and 8 mares concurrently with colic surgery. The haemostatic suture was used in 31 of 66 mares (47%) and surgery period was significantly (P<0.05) shorter when it was not applied. Anaemia (PCV<30%) was recorded in 13 (22%) of 58 mares, excluding the colic group, and the haemostatic suture did not after this proportion of mares that had anaemia. Anaemia was 5 times more probable following caesarean section than vaginal delivery, evidence that bleeding from the hysterotomy is a serious and common complication of caesarean section in mares. Severe uterine haemorrhage was recorded in 3 mares that had an haemostatic suture (10%) and in 2 mares that did not (6%). The latter two mares died of haemorrhage. The suture, therefore did not eliminate post operative anaemia and severe uterine haemorrhage. If omitted, the hysterotomy should be closed with a full thickness pattern that is sufficiently tight to compress vessels in the uterine wall.

Hysterotomy by a colpotomy approach for treatment of foetal mummification in a cow.

A 7-year-old Brahman cow was diagnosed as suffering from chronic foetal mummification of unknown aetiology, concurrent cystic ovarian disease, prolapse of the 2nd cervical ring and chronic cervicitis. Repeated treatment with prostaglandin F2alpha and oestrogen failed to resolve the mummification. A hysterotomy was performed via an incision in the dorsolateral vaginal wall. Good exposure of the uterine horn was achieved and mild post-operative complications were observed. Colpotomy can be regarded as an alternative surgical approach to the moderately enlarged bovine uterus.