Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Surgery of the bovine large intestine.
- Journal:
- The Veterinary clinics of North America. Food animal practice
- Year:
- 2008
- Authors:
- Meylan, Mireille
- Affiliation:
- Clinic for Ruminants
Plain-English summary
Cows can suffer from serious issues with their large intestines, like cecal dilatation, which is when a part of their intestine becomes enlarged, and atresia, which is a birth defect where part of the intestine is missing. These problems can sometimes be fixed with surgery right in the field, especially for cecal dilatation. However, for newborn calves with atresia, only simpler surgeries can be done outside, while more complicated procedures are better handled in a hospital. It's important to note that fixing atresia is usually not recommended for long-term health reasons and should only be done if absolutely necessary. Overall, the success of these surgeries can vary based on the specific condition and the complexity of the procedure.
Abstract
Cecal dilatation in cows and large intestinal atresia in neonatal calves are the most important diseases of the bovine large intestine amenable to surgical correction under field conditions. Clinical symptoms, diagnostic steps, surgical and medical treatment, etiopathogenesis, and prognosis are discussed. Surgery for correction of cecal dilatation, with and without retroflexion or torsion, can be performed under field conditions. In contrast, only anal reconstruction after atresia ani or colostomy in the case of atresia coli are amenable to field surgery; more complicated bypass procedures with anastomosis for atresia coli are best performed in hospital settings. Correcting intestinal atresia is not recommended because of animal welfare and breeding hygiene issues; it should be undertaken for salvage purposes only.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18929954/