Pre‐operative and Operative Difficulties During Bovine Caesarean Section in Belgium and Associated Risk Factors

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe the difficulties encountered during caesarean section (CS) in practice on mainly Belgian Blue (BB) cows and to identify the associated risk factors. Data were collected using a questionnaire completed by veterinarians of the Ambulatory Clinic of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University (Belgium), immediately after performing a CS. Results revealed that the BB breed had fewer severe pre-operative problems than animals of other breeds, most probably due to the fact that CSs in this breed are performed in a very early stage of parturition. Mild as well as severe difficulties were more likely to happen during surgery in cows that had undergone a CS before. Cows at their second or third surgery had a significantly higher proportion of larger calves and more skin scar tissue was present, both increasing the risk of abdominal wall muscular and uterine haemorrhage. These factors can all lead to problems with exteriorization and suturing of the uterus; hence special attention is needed when performing a CS on a cow which has experienced the procedure before. The more experienced veterinarians were less likely to report difficulties during the operation than less experienced surgeons.

Atypical case of parietal fibrinous peritonitis in a Belgian Blue heifer without a history of laparotomy

“…Symptoms typically develop one to two months after the initial surgery and may include hyperthermia, anorexia, gastrointestinal atony, maldigestion, diarrhoea, weight loss and colic, depending on the volume and the localisation 3–6. Although the complication occurs after only 0.7%–1% of laparotomies,1 3 a large number of PFP cases are observed in Belgian rural veterinary practice, due to the considerable number of caesarean sections (CS) in the Belgian Blue cattle breed 7 8. Because PFP is poorly documented in literature, practitioners often base their treatment decisions on personal experiences.…”

A new predilection site of Mycoplasma bovis: Postsurgical seromas in beef cattle

“…Several pre-, peri-and postoperative complications of this surgical procedure have been described 34 (Mijten, 1998, Kolkman et al, 2010. In BB cattle wound infection and seroma formation occur in 35 13% and 1% of CS cases, respectively (Mijten, 1998).…”

Serum biochemical profile in Holstein Friesian and Belgian blue calves in the first 48 hours of life

“…According to these criteria, 19 HF calves were enrolled. Twenty-three double-muscled BB calves born by elective caesarean section (Kolkman et al 2010) were also included. Placental expulsion time was recorded, and placental retention was defined as no expulsion of the foetal membranes within 24 h of calving (Fourichon et al 2000).…”