Ovine caesarean operations: a study of 137 field cases

Under field conditions a 97.8% success rate was achieved for caesarean operations performed on ewes with live or freshly dead lambs present in utero. Where lambs were in moderate to advanced stages of autolysis and emphysema the survival rate of the dam was 57.1%. Neither the presence of a vaginal prolapse nor abortion appeared to have an influence on the survival rate of the ewe. Interference and trauma to the posterior reproductive tract prior to veterinary examination reduced the success rate of cases. Ewes with a history during gestation of a prolapsed vagina were 10 times more likely to require a caesarean operation to correct the dystocia than normal ewes. A range of haematological variables failed to give an accurate prognostic guide to the outcome of surgery. A caesarean operation is recommended in preference to euthanasia of a ewe that could have been considered a poor-risk surgical case. Fetotomy was not possible in cases where emphysematous lambs were present in utero.