Caesarean section, also known as a C-section, is a surgical procedure where the uterus is cut open to deliver one or more fetuses due to complications such as uterine inertia, dystocia, or rupture of the uterus. The key steps of a C-section in bovines include preparing the surgical area, giving local anesthesia, making an incision in the left lower flank, exteriorizing the uterus, removing the fetus, delivering the placenta, suturing the uterus, and closing the abdominal wall. Post-operative care including antibiotics, fluids, and oxytocin are important to prevent complications such as infection, adhesions, and hemorrhage.

1. Caesarean section in bovines
Presented by:-
Dr. Naveen Verma

2. • Caesarean section is also commonly termed as C-Section in
which uterus is exteriorized to take out the young one from
the pregnant dam.

3. • Uterine inertia
• Various types of obstructive dystocia (for eg:
Emphysematous fetus, Oversized fetus, small pelvic
anal of the dam, difficulty in parturition due to pelvic
fractures, position and posture dystocia etc.)
• Rupture of uterus (may be due to injection or
excessive manipulation of the fetus).
IndicationsIndications

4. Cont…
• Animal in highly compromised condition like
pregnancy toxemia, weak prostrated dam unable to
show labor etc.
• In the mares twin pregnancy is also an indication for
C-Section.
• Uterine torsion.
• Incomplete Cervical dilatation.

5. Ideal conditions
• Clean and bright place for the operation.
• Air borne contamination should be strictly
avoided.
• To prevent the post-operative complications
and septicemia.

6. MATERIALS REQUIRED:
• Appropriate drugs for sedation and local anaesthesia
• Resuscitation facilities including arrangements to dry and warm
the calf. Doxapram hydrochloride (50 mg) may be kept ready in
a syringe with a suitable needle prior to surgery because
sometimes, it is needed urgently when calf is delivered.
• Sterilized calving ropes or chains which may be needed during
removal of the foetus from the uterus.
• Antiseptic solution for skin preparation - 7.5% Povidone-iodine
or 4% Chlorhexidine gluconate and surgical spirit.
• Sterilized drape.
• Surgical kit: Scalpel, rat-toothed forceps, scissors, six haemostats,
needle-holders, round-body and cutting suture needles.
• Suture material.
• Antibiotics: Strepto-penicillin or ampicillin is useful.

7. Anaesthesia
• Sedation should be avoided as it can cause recumbency detrimental to
fetal survival. If sedation is necessary, xylazine is commonly used (0.05-
0.1 mg/ kg b.w. I/M).
• For flank incision, paravertebral anaesthesia should be given.
• Inverted - L block:
• An inverted - L block of the flank is an alternative to paravertebral
Anaesthesia.
• Epidural anaesthesia:
• Epidural anaesthesia is not essential but is useful to prevent straining
and tail movement during surgery.

8. Site of operation
 Vertical or oblique incision
 Left lower flank is preferred- the hind limbs are
secured caudally.

9. Fig. 1: left lower flank incision in cattle
Incision is just in front of stifle and extends
cranioventrally in a slight oblique direction

10. •In mares, a left paramedian incision (caudal) or
ventral midline incision.
•Take the animals on appropriate recumbency.
•Checked for dehydration and administered the
intravenous fluids rehydration .
•Dexamethasone should be given along with antibiotics

11. Cattle:
• Structures invaded are
• skin,
• subcutaneous fascia
• combined aponeurosis of the two oblique
muscles which forms the external sheath of the
rectus abdominis
• transverse abdominis
• peritoneum.

13. • The uterine incision should follow the longitudinal line of
greater curvature of the uterus
• Cow: The gravid uterus may lie directly up on the right
abdominal floor
• Uterus is packed off from the abdominal cavity

14. • Forelimbs or hind limbs are
grasped depending upon the
presentation and the fetus is
taken out from the uterus
• Calf should be cared by the
assistants
• Cleaned, dried, cleared off
the mucus from the nostrils
• The umbilical cord is
ligated far enough from the
navel and cut so that it
contracts
• Antiseptic application

15. Removal of after births
• If it is easily removed by
gentle traction it should be
removed or otherwise, it
should not be pulled with
force since chances of
caruncular bleeding is
strong which may be fatal
to the dam
• If such bleeding is
encountered in the dam,
then we can counteract it by
giving oxytocin which
largely shrinks the uterus
and stops the bleeding

16. DELIVERED DEAD FOETUS

17. Closure of uterus
• Antibiotics can be instilled into the uterus as common
procedure for all the species before closure
• The uterine incision is cleaned with gauze and closed
by a double row of Lamberts sutures using chromic
catgut size 2-0 or 3-0 in bitch and size 2 in cattle and
buffaloes

18. • Abdominal incisions are sutured in the usual manner, closing
the peritoneum, muscle in simple continous pattern and
skin in either cross mattress or horizontal mattress pattern.

20. Abdominal spillage
• Note: utmost care should be taken to avoid the spillage
of uterine contents into the peritoneal / abdominal
cavity
• It should be lavaged with sterile normal saline containing
non- irritant antibiotics to counteract the infection,
reduce the chances of postoperative adhesions and
infection.
• The uterine torsion in case of cattle and buffaloes should
be then corrected. 50-60 units of oxytocin hasten the
uterine involution. A 5% solution of dextrose and normal
saline solution should be invariably included in the
schedule as most deaths have hypoglycemia and
hypochloraemia.

21. Complications of cesarean section
• Peritonitis
• Wound breakdown
• Seroma formation - A pocket of sterile serous fluid
accumulates between muscle layers or under the skin.
This can be confirmed when a sterile needle is inserted
- serum flow-out.
• Retention of the foetal membranes
• Metritis
• Infertility
• Mastitis (E. coli infection)
• Sudden death.