Ultrasound as a decision-making tool in abdominal surgery in cows.

In many patients, abdominal ultrasonography is an excellent diagnostic and prognostic tool. It aids in deciding whether the animal should undergo surgical or medical treatment or be slaughtered. This is particularly true in cattle with traumatic reticuloperitonitis (in combination with radiography of the reticulum) or with a tentative diagnosis of left or right displacement of the abomasum. Ultrasound also is an excellent aid for identification of ileus of the small and large intestine, liver abscesses, cholestasis, various urinary tract disorders, and the different forms of ascites.     

Ultrasonography of the omasum in cows with various gastrointestinal diseases

The omasums of 30 healthy cows and 55 cows with various gastrointestinal disorders (10 with left displacement and eight with right displacement of the abomasum, 10 with abomasal volvulus, 10 with traumatic reticuloperitonitis, nine with ileus of the small intestines and eight with reticulo-omasal stenosis) were examined ultrasonographically on the right side of the body with a 3.5 MHz linear transducer. The dorsal and ventral margins of the omasum and its size in the fifth to 11th intercostal spaces were determined. Generally, the ultrasonographic appearance of the omasum did not differ between the healthy and abnormal cows. The omasum appeared as a semicircle, and the omasal wall closest to the transducer was visible as a thick echogenic line. In a few of the abnormal cows, the omasal laminae were visible and the omasum appeared to have motility. In the cows with left and right displacement of the abomasum and abomasal volvulus, the dorsal margin of the omasum was significantly further from the dorsal midline in some intercostal spaces than in the healthy cows. In the cows with left displacement of the abomasum, the ventral margin of the omasum was significantly further from the dorsal midline in the 7th intercostal space than in the healthy cows. In the cows with reticulo-omasal stenosis, traumatic reticuloperitonitis and ileus of the small intestine, the ventral margin of the omasum was significantly closer to the dorsal midline in some intercostal spaces than in the healthy cows. The mean (sd) size of the omasum in the healthy cows varied from 16.3 (1.5) cm to 56.9 (10.0) cm, depending on the intercostal space, and the omasum was significantly smaller in some intercostal spaces in the cows with reticulo-omasal stenosis, right displacement of the omasum, abomasal volvulus and ileus of the small intestine.     

Ultrasonography in gastrointestinal disease in cattle

Ultrasonography is an ideal diagnostic tool for investigating gastrointestinal disorders in cattle. It is performed on standing non-sedated cattle using a 3.5 MHz linear transducer. In animals with traumatic reticuloperitonitis, inflammatory fibrinous changes, and abscesses can be imaged; however, magnets and foreign bodies are difficult to visualize because of the gas content of the reticulum. Ultrasonography can be used to assess the size, position and contents of the abomasum. Percutaneous ultrasound-guided abomasocentesis can be performed to evaluate the nature and chemical composition of its contents. In left displacement of the abomasum, the abomasum is seen between the left abdominal wall and the rumen. It contains fluid ingesta ventrally and a gas cap of varying size dorsally. Occasionally, the abomasal folds are seen in the ingesta. In cattle with right displacement of the abomasum, the liver is displaced medially from the right abdominal wall by the abomasum, which has an ultrasonographic appearance similar to that described for left displacement. Motility and diameter of the intestine are the most important criteria for ultrasonographic assessment of ileus. However, the cause of the ileus is rarely determined using ultrasonography. In cases with ileus of the small intestine, there is at least one region of dilatation of the intestine and motility is reduced or absent. In cattle with caecal dilatation, the caecum can always be imaged from the right lateral abdominal wall. The wall of the caecum closest to the transducer appears as a thick, echogenic, semi-circular line.     

The use of ultrasonography for diagnosing the cause of colic in cows. A review

Ultrasonography is a very useful technique for diagnosing the cause of colic in cows. It allows visualisation of abnormal reticular contour and occasionally of abnormal contractility in cows with reticuloperitonitis. In right-displaced abomasum, the dilated abomasum can be detected between the right abdominal wall and the liver. Fluid ingesta are seen ventrally and a gas cap of varying size dorsally. Dilated loops of small intestines that are almost always static are the main diagnostic criterion for ileus of the small intestine, but the cause of the ileus can only rarely be determined. Cholestasis can almost always be diagnosed by imaging a dilated biliary system. With obstruction at the level of the hepatic portal, only the intrahepatic biliary ducts are dilated, while a dilatation of the entire biliary tract, including the gallbladder, occurs in the case of an obstruction near the duodenal papilla. Urinary tract diseases cause colic in cows when concrement or inflammatory products become lodged in a ureter. The importance of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of diseases causing colic in cows varies. For example, with colic attributable to ileus of the small intestines, cholestasis or urinary tract disease, ultrasonography is a very useful diagnostic tool. On the other hand, for diagnosis of left or right displacement of the abomasum or caecal dilatation, ultrasonography is generally not required, but it is helpful in difficult cases to confirm or rule out a tentative diagnosis and to avoid an unnecessary exploratory laparotomy.     

RADIOGRAPHY OF THE BOVINE CRANIOVENTRAL ABDOMEN

This study consists of a review of 115 consecutively accrued bovine cranial abdomial radiographs. The sensitivity and specificity of radiography in detecting traumatic reticuloperitonitis or pericarditis was 83% and 90%, respectively. Increased reticular size was associated with vagal indigestion. Increased reticulo-diaphragmatic separation did not correlate with a specific disease process, 25/35 (71%) cattle presented for radiographic examination with a 1 cm or longer metallic reticular foreign body unattached to a magnet had traumatic reticuloperitonitis. Standing lateral abdominal radiographs were determined to be a valuable tool in the diagnosis of cranial abdominal disorders in the bovine.     

Accuracy of radiography of the reticulum for predicting surgical findings in adult dairy cattle with traumatic reticuloperitonitis: 123 cases (1981-1987)

Radiographic and surgical findings were compared in 123 cattle suspected of having traumatic reticuloperitonitis. Radiography of the reticulum proved to be a sensitive test for detection of a foreign body (FB). An abnormal FB position on a radiograph was a good predictor of FB perforation. If an FB was fully attached to a magnet, it was unlikely to be perforating the reticular wall. When abnormal reticulum size, abnormal reticulum location, and gas shadows adjacent to the reticulum were found simultaneously on a radiograph, hepatic or perireticular abscess was likely. Reticular radiography proved to be a useful diagnostic aid in cattle suspected of having traumatic reticuloperitonitis.     

Thrombosis of the cranial vena cava in a cow with bronchopneumonia and traumatic reticuloperitonitis

This paper reports the clinical findings, surgical and medical management, and necropsy of a 6-year-old cow with thrombosis of the cranial vena cava and thrombo-embolic pneumonia following traumatic reticuloperitonitis. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by necropsy.     

Abomasal displacement and volvulus in beef cattle: 19 cases (1988-1998)

OBJECTIVE: To assess signalment, history, results of clinical and laboratory testing, and outcome for beef cattle with a left displaced abomasum (LDA), right displaced abomasum (RDA), or abomasal volvulus (AV). DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 19 beef cattle with an AV, LDA, or RDA. PROCEDURE: Signalment; history; results of physical examination, diagnostic testing, and surgical exploration; and condition of the animal at discharge were obtained from medical records. RESULTS: Fourteen cattle had an AV, 4 had an RDA, and 1 had an LDA. Duration of clinical signs ranged from 1 to 21 days. Eighteen cattle had an AV or RDA; 7 were Brahmans, 12 were males, and median age was 10 months. Abdominal distention was observed in 11 cattle, heart rate of > or = 100 beats/minute was detected in 14, and the abomasum was palpable per rectum in all cattle in which per rectal examination was performed. Leukocytosis, neutrophilia, hyperglycemia, azotemia, hypochloremia, and hypokalemia were common laboratory findings. At surgery, 3 cattle with an AV or RDA had a ruptured abomasum. Of the remaining 15 cattle, 12 survived. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical course in beef cattle with an AV or RDA was more protracted than that typically associated with these conditions in dairy cattle, but survival rate in beef cattle that did not have rupture of the abomasum was similar to that of dairy cattle. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Abomasal displacement should be considered for beef cattle with abdominal distention. Prognostic indicators recommended for use in dairy cattle may not be useful for beef cattle.     

Abomasal impaction of cattle in Saskatchewan

Seventy-five necropsy reports of cattle diagnosed as abomasal impaction by the Pathology Department of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine were reviewed. Twenty percent of all affected animals had lesions of traumatic reticuloperitonitis and 60% were believed to be primarily dietary in origin resulting from the ingestion of too much fibre. The remaining 20% did not fit into either category. Abomasal tears, ulcers, and necrosis of the walls of the rumen, omasum, or abomasum were recorded in almost half of the cases. Pyloric stenosis was not encountered. The disease occurred mostly in winter in association with straw feed. Sixty percent of impacted beef cattle suffered from the dietary form, but the majority of dairy cattle, which would have been fed better diets, had the traumatic form which may have been precipitated by dry fibrous feeds. There was no indication of a higher incidence in heavily pregnant animals. Thirty-five of the animals necropsied had been presented alive, and the clinical features of the two main types of abomasal impaction were examined. Cattle with impactions associated with traumatic reticuloperitonitis were sick for a longer period than those animals with dietary related impactions, were single incident cases, and had a statistically significant rise in serum protein.     

The sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of total plasma protein in the diagnosis of traumatic reticuloperitonitis.

We analyzed the value of total plasma protein in the diagnosis of traumatic reticuloperitonitis in dairy cattle using the concept of sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of a test. Cows with traumatic reticuloperitonitis surgically confirmed at the New York State College of Veterinary Medicine served as cases, while cows surgically explored for other abdominal diseases that might be confused with traumatic reticuloperitonitis during differential diagnosis were controls. The sensitivity of the total plasma protein in diagnosis of traumatic reticuloperitonitis decreased from 97% to 6.3% as the cutoff value for a positive test rose from 65 g/L to 110 g/L, while specificity increased from 11.3% to 99.1% over the same range of cutoff values. Application of these figures to predictive values positive and negative at various prevalence levels of disease is discussed. For example at the measured prevalence level of 37%, 76% of cattle with plasma protein concentrations in excess of 100 g/L had traumatic reticuloperitonitis.     

奶牛真胃变位的诊断与治疗

真胃变位(abomasal displacement)是指真胃正常解剖学位置发生改变,引起消化功能障碍,导致营养失调的消化系统疾病。真胃变位是奶牛常见疾病,多发于高产奶牛分娩前后,一般情况下多发生左方变位,在断奶前一般发生右方变位。该病主要造成奶牛的淘汰率增加,生产能力下降,治疗费用增多,给奶牛养殖业造成严重损失。本文介绍在富宁兰养殖场实习期间遇到的奶牛真胃变位病例,并从发病原因、临床症状、诊断、治疗、预防等几个方面进行总结,以期为有效防治奶牛真胃变位提供参考。     

Ultrasonographic findings in 22 cattle with pericarditis traumatica

The goal of the present study was to describe the ultrasonographic findings in 22 cattle with traumatic pericarditis. A 5.0 MHz linear transducer or a 5.0 MHz convex transducer was used to examine the thorax, reticulum and liver. There was severe pleural effusion in 17 heifers and severe pericardial effusion in 13 animals. Echogenic deposits and strands of fibrin were seen on the epicardium of 7 animals. Eighteen cattle had signs of traumatic reticuloperitonitis, and 11 had ascites. Because of cardiac insufficiency, 14 cattle had a markedly enlarged liver due to congestion and 15 had dilatation of the caudal vena cava. Ultrasonography is a useful diagnostic aid for visualisation and characterisation of thoracic and abdominal lesions in cattle with traumatic pericarditis.     

Use of bovine somatotropin at the time of surgery for left displacement of the abomasum in dairy cows. Minnesota Dairy Practitioners Study Group

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a single dose of recombinant bovine somatotropin (bST) on certain metabolic values, health, and milk production of dairy cows undergoing surgery for left displacement of the abomasum. DESIGN: Blinded clinical trial. ANIMALS: 413 cows with left displacement of the abomasum. PROCEDURE: A single 500-mg dose of bST was administered to dairy cows following surgery in field practice conditions for left displacement of the abomasum. A placebo of the same carrier without bST was administered to control cows in this blinded study. Metabolic and production responses in a short-term follow-up period were measured. RESULTS: Blood glucose concentrations in cows 3 to 5 days after surgery were statistically higher for treated cows than for control cows. A higher proportion of treated cows had improved urine ketone test results than did controls. Significant differences in other metabolic values, health, and milk production were not detected. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Treatment of metabolically compromised cows with bST may have some positive effects, but further investigation is needed to confirm therapeutic value.     

Field study of dairy cows with reduced appetite in early lactation: clinical examinations, blood and rumen fluid analyses

The study included 125 cows with reduced appetite and with clinical signs interpreted by the owner as indicating bovine ketosis 6 to 75 days postpartum. Almost all of the cows were given concentrates 2 to 3 times daily. With a practitioners view to treatment and prophylaxis the cows were divided into 5 diagnostic groups on the basis of thorough clinical examination, milk ketotest, decreased protozoal activity and concentrations, increased methylene blue reduction time, and increased liver parameters: ketosis (n = 32), indigestion (n = 26), combined ketosis and indigestion (n = 29), liver disease combined with ketosis, indigestion, or both (n = 15), and no specific diagnosis (n = 17). Three cows with traumatic reticuloperitonitis and 3 with abomasal displacement were not grouped. Nonparametric methods were used when groups were compared. Aspartate aminotransferase, glutamate dehydrogenase, gamma-glutamyl transferase and total bilirubin were elevated in the group with liver disease. Free fatty acids were significantly elevated in cows with ketosis, compared with cows with indigestion. Activity and concentrations of large and small protozoas were reduced, and methylene blue reduction time was increased in cows with indigestion. The rumen fluid pH was the same for groups of cows with and without indigestion. Prolonged reduced appetite before examination could have led to misclassification. Without careful interpretation of the milk ketotest, many cases with additional diagnoses would have been reported as primary ketosis. Thorough clinical examination together with feasible rumen fluid examination and economically reasonable blood biochemistry did not uncover the reason(s) for reduced appetite in 14% of the cows. More powerful diagnostic methods are needed.     

Ventral laparoscopic abomasopexy on adult cows

Displacement of the abomasum is frequently diagnosed by veterinarians in bovine practice and numerous surgical techniques have been developed to treat and prevent this condition. Complications secondary to those techniques are related to their degree of invasiveness and the development of postoperative wound infections. The objectives of this study were to describe a safe and reliable abomasopexy technique by laparoscopy and to assess postoperative adhesion formation. A ventral laparoscopic abomasopexy was performed on 10 adult dry cows. The abomasum was fixed with 4 simple interrupted sutures using USP 2 polydioxanone suture material. No major complications were encountered during the surgery. Abomasal adhesions were visually evaluated by laparoscopy 3 mo postoperatively. This technique proved to be simple and safe, and it provided adequate abomasum fixation in healthy dry cows. It could be used to surgically correct left displaced abomasum.     

Surgical diseases of the small intestine.

Surgical disorders of the gastrointestinal tract of cattle occur occasionally, and veterinarians are challenged to determine an accurate diagnosis and treatment for these conditions. Although surgical diseases most commonly occur in the forestomachs (dislocated abomasum, reticuloperitonitis) and the colons (cecal dilatation), this article focuses on lesions in the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum).     

Surgery of the bovine forestomach compartments

Surgery of the forestomach compartments is performed in bovine practices for the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases, including traumatic reticuloperitonitis, perireticular abscess, vagal indigestion, and grain overload. Through a left flank laparotomy, the cranial abdomen is first explored by palpation for adhesions or masses. A rumenotomy allows thorough examination of the lumen of the rumen and reticulum. Surgical correction of disease may require emptying of the rumen, removal of a foreign body, or drainage of an abscess into the reticulum. With some abscesses, single aspiration and lavage of the abscess capsule or drainage of the abscess through the body wall, following a ventral celiotomy, is required. If adhesions associated with disease do not affect the innervation of the forestomach, the prognosis for return to functional status within the herd is good. Adhesions involving the medial wall of the reticulum or pericardial and myocardial disease due to extensions of traumatic reticuloperitonitis have a very poor prognosis, and thus slaughter should be considered in affected cases.     

Predictive values for clinical signs of abomasal ulcer disease in adult dairy cattle

A 12-month prospective study was performed to determine the predictive values for clinical signs of abomasal ulcer disease in a hospital population of 296 adult dairy cows which were believed to have gastrointestinal dysfunction. There were 26 ulcer-positive cows (prevalence 8.8%). The occult blood test was a more reliable indicator of abomasal ulcer disease than were the abdominal pain or anemia tests. Only three ulcer-positive cows were negative for all three tests.

Forty-five cows were positive for at least one of the three clinical tests. The principal diseases present in the 22 cows that had false-positive results were traumatic reticuloperitonitis, abomasal displacement, liver disease, cecal volvulus and pneumonia or pleuritis.     

Reflux of bile acids from the duodenum into the rumen of cows with a reduced intestinal passage

The purpose of this study was to find out whether the concentration of bile acids in the rumen of healthy cows differs from that of cows with a reduced gastrointestinal passage. The investigations were performed on 277 heifers and cows of the Swiss Braunvieh, Simmental and Swiss Holstein breeds. Forty of these had traumatic reticuloperitonitis, 30 had right or left abomasal displacement, 14 had an ileus of the duodenum, 36 had an ileus of the jejunum and 54 had a caecal dilatation. The other 103 animals had disorders which did not affect the digestive system and were used as controls. The mean (+/- se) bile acid concentration in the rumen fluid of the control animals was 1.0 +/- 0.30 mumol/litre. The bile acid concentrations in the rumen fluid of the cows with a duodenal or jejunal ileus were significantly higher than those of the other groups, demonstrating that bile acids may reflux from the duodenum into the rumen of cows with an ileus in the small intestine.     

Culling of dairy cows. Part I. Effects of diseases on culling in Finnish Ayrshire cows.

The effects of 15 diseases on time until culling were studied in 39,727 Finnish Ayrshire cows that calved during 1993 and were followed until the next calving or culling. The diseases studied were: dystocia, milk fever, retained placenta, displacement of the abomasum, metritis, non-parturient paresis, ketosis, rumen disorders, acute mastitis, hypomagnesemia, lameness, traumatic reticuloperitonitis, anestrus, ovarian cysts, and teat injuries. Survival analysis, using the Cox proportional hazards model, was performed and diseases were modeled as time-dependent covariates. Different stages of lactation when culling can occur were also considered. Parity, calving season and herd were included as covariates in every model. Parity had a significant effect on culling, the risk of culling being four times higher for a cow in her sixth or higher parity than for a first parity cow. The effects of diseases varied according to when the diseases occurred and when culling occurred. Mastitis, teat injuries and lameness had a significant effect on culling throughout the whole lactation. Anestrus and ovarian cysts had a protective effect against culling at the time when they were diagnosed. In general, diseases affected culling decisions mostly at the time of their occurrence. The effect seemed to decrease with time from the diagnosis of the disease. However, milk fever, dystocia and metritis also had a significant effect on culling at the end of the lactation.