This document provides information about various veterinary surgical procedures including caesarean section, rumenotomy, and castration. It discusses the indications, techniques, and post-operative care for each procedure. Specifically, it describes how caesarean section involves opening the abdomen and uterus to deliver calves when natural birth is difficult. It also explains that rumenotomy requires an incision into the rumen to remove contents and relieve impaction. Finally, it notes that castration removes the testicles in animals like dogs and cattle.

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3. 1. CAESAREAN
OPERATIONS
2. RUMENOTOMY
3. CASTRATION
9
3
LECTURE
TOPICS

4. UPSC PYQ’s
1. Describe procedure of Caesarean section in cow? ( 2018)
2. Describe the surgical intervention as regards C-section in large
animals?( 2014)
3. Surgical site for C-section? ( 2012)

5. CAESARIAN SECTION /
HYSTEROTOMY IN COW
Bovine caesarean section (C-section) is one of the oldest
surgical interventions in the field of veterinary science and is a
widely used emergency operative technique for surgical
delivery of calves.
C-Section involves: laparotomy/ celiotomy (surgical
opening of abdomen) and hysterotomy (surgical opening
of uterus).
C-sections are necessary in cattle, buffaloes, sheep and
goats, when normal vaginal delivery is too difficult and is not
progressing in the normal time period and therefore could
endanger the life of the cow or the life of her foetus (es).

6. GOAL
Goals of performing C-Sections are to save the life of
cow/buffalo, to save the life of calf and to preservation
of future reproductive efficiency of cow/buffalo.

7. 7
INDICATIONS
The common indications for C-section in cow/buffaloes are:
1. Foeto-maternal disproportion (relative/absolute).
2. Incomplete dilation of the cervix/vagina/vulva.
3. Irreducible uterine torsion
4. Inability to correct foetal mal-disposition.
5. Inability to perform foetotomy on an emphysematous calf.
6. Inability to perform foetotomy on foetal monsters
ANAESTHESIA AND CONTROL
PARAVERTEBRAL OR LUMBAR EPIDURAL; RECUMBANT STATE.
If required xylazine sedation along with local anaesthetic
infiltration .

8. SITE
There are many sites for this operation.
1. Between the mammary- vein & midline, either on left or right
side from front of udder.
2. Lateral to & parallel to milk vein.
3. Oblique flank incision, downward & forward from a little below
external angle of ilium.
4. Vertical incision in the Paralumbar fossa ( preferrably on left
side)

9. Surgical approaches
for C-section
There are eight surgical approaches for the bovine
caesarean section:
1. Standing left paralumbar celiotomy
2. Standing right paralumbar celiotomy
3. Recumbent left paralumbar celiotomy
4. Recumbent right paralumbar celiotomy
5. Recumbent ventral midline celiotomy
6. Recumbent ventral paramedian celiotomy
7. Ventro-lateral celiotomy
8. Standing left oblique celiotomy

10. Fig. 1: Standing left paralumbar celiotomy.
The placement of the incision is indicated by
the dashed line .
Fig. 2: Recumbent ventral midline celiotomy and
recumbent ventral paramedian celiotomy. The
placement of the incision is indicated by the dashed
line.

11. Fig. 3: The proper positioning of the cow and
incision site for the ventro-lateral celiotomy.
The placement of the incision is indicated by
the dashed line.
Fig. 4: Standing left oblique celiotomy. The
placement of the incision is indicated by the
dashed line

12. Procedure
1.The surgical approach for a C-section depends on the preference
of the surgeon, the temperament of the cow, and the
facilities/assistance available.
2.The right lateral recumbency is the preferred restraining position
for C-section in cattle/buffaloes/sheep/goat. Animals that are
severely dehydrated may need IV fluids prior to surgery.
3. If the cow/buffalo is straining she may need an epidural analgesia
prior to surgery to reduce the amount of straining. Local
veterinarian may recommend antibiotics & non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs.
4. Linear infiltration anesthesia normally followed using lignocaine
hydrochloride 2% solution. Lower left flank/oblique/paramedian
incision followed for laparotomy.

13. Procedure
5. A relatively large incision approximately 15-20 cm is made into the
abdomen so that one horn of the uterus can be brought to the outside.
6. The uterus is carefully incised, and the fetus is gently pulled out.
The uterus is then closed in double layer following inversion pattern
suturing, the area is rinsed with sterile fluids, uterus replaced in
abdominal cavity, and the abdominal incision is closed.
7. If possible to perform a foetotomy and for vaginal removal of portions
of the foetus body rather than a C-section if the fetus is dead.
8.If the cow/buffalo has a uterine torsion (a twisted uterus) it may be
necessary to correct the torsion prior to delivering the calf. This can be
done by rolling the cow. The cow is placed on her.

14. Post-operative
management
Regular broad spectrum antibiotics advised for 6-7
days.
Anti-inflammatory for 4-5 days (Meloxicam @ 0.2-0.3
mg/kg body weight).
Regular antiseptic dressing of surgical wound using
liquid betadine.
Multivitamin injection for 3-4 days.
Skin suture removal after 10 days

15. RUMENOTOMY
DEFINITION- A surgical procedure which involves an
incision into the Rumen to remove its contents and relieve
impaction or stasis.
INDICATIONS- Exploratory, Foreign body reticulitis,
Severe impaction
SITE- Left flank, in the Paralumbar fossa, a vertical incision
6 – 8 inches long.

16. ANATOMY
--The three non glandular forestomach compartments in the
cow are the rumen, reticulum, and omasum.
-- The abomasum is the true “stomach” and has a glandular mucous
membrane.
-- The rumen occupies most of the abdomen’s
left side; its long axis extends from ribs seven to eight to
the pelvis.
--The reticulum lies against the diaphragm left of
midline opposite the sixth to eighth ribs.
--The omasum is right of midline at the ventral aspect of ribs 7 to 11.
--The abomasum lies mostly right of midline and extends from
the xiphoid area to the ninth or tenth intercostal space in
the non pregnant cow.

17. TECHNIQUE
 A vertical incision about 6 to 8 inches long is made commencing
about 2 inches below the level of the lumbar transverse process.
 The abdominal muscles and the parietal peritoneum are traversed
by a direct incision corresponding to the skin incision.
 The wound is kept retracted and the rumen wall is fixed to the skin
edges by a set of temporary through-and-through mattress sutures
before opening into the rumen. This is to pre vent escape of rumen
contents into peritoneal cavity. (Instead of such fixation, the
McLintock's method or Weingart's method may be used).

18. TECHNIQUE
 A short incision is made on the rumen and this is extended enough
to permit easy access by hand into the rumen and reticulum. The
rumen contents are removed without contaminating the peritoneal
cavity by proper packing.
 The reticulum can also be examined by stretching the hand
through the rumen The large rumeno-reticular passage, the
oesophageal groove, and the opening of oesophagus into the
stomach are also palpable this way.
 The temporary fixation sutures of the rumen to the skin are
removed only after the incision on the rumen wall is closed by
inversion sutures. Connel's or Cushing's sutures are used to close
the rumen.

19. TECHNIQUE
19
 A continuous Lembert's suture is also placed over this. The
parietal peritoneum is closed by continuous suture.
 The incised muscles are brought into apposition by continuous
sutures. The skin incision is closed by vertical mattress sutures
or ordinary interrupted apposition sutures.
Note: Instead of suturing the parietal peritoneum, muscles and skin
by separate layers of sutures described above, some persons
prefer a "figure-of-eight suture" to close these different layers of
tissues in the abdominal wall.

20. 20
Rumen forceps are hooked on the
dorsal and ventral aspect of the
rumen board.
This allows exteriorization of a
portion of the rumen wall.

21. 21
A, After incising the rumen wall,
B, rumen hooks are implanted in the cut edges of the rumen
and attached securely to screws and nuts placed at regular
intervals along the rumen board.

22. 22
The rumen is sutured to the skin with a
Cushing-type pattern to form a seal between
the rumen and the skin.
A rumenotomy has been performed and a plastic
wound protector applied. Solid contents of the
rumen are removed manually.

23. CASTRATION / REMOVAL OF
TESTICLES
23
Term Castration can be used to mean removal of the
testicles or removal of the ovaries.
• But by common usage the term is confined only to the
removal of testicles. Removal of ovaries is denoted by
the term spaying oroopherectomy. (The term
ovariotomy is better used for removal of diseased
ovaries rather than normal ovaries.)

24. METHODS
24
(1) Closed method, eg., Burdizzo method
(1) Open method:
(a) Open uncovered method (b) Open covered method.
• In closed method no incision is put. The spermatic cord is crushed and this
causes thrombus formation in the spermatic vessels. The arrest of blood flow to
the testicles caused by the thombosis of the vessels brings about gradual
atrophy of the testicles.
• In the open uncovered method, the skin and tunica vaginalis are incised to
expose the testicle and spermatic cord. The testicle is then removed by cutting
the spermatic cord.
• In the open covered method the tunica vaginalis is not incised. The testes and
spermatic cord are pulled out along with their covering of t.v. and the testicle
(covered with t.v.) is removed by severing the supermatic cord as such).

25. CASTRATION / REMOVAL OF
TESTICLES
25
Usual age for castration:
1. Horses are usually castrated when they are about
one year old.
2. Calves (beef cattle) sheep and goats when they are
about two months old.
3. Pigs about the first week after birth.
4. Cats and dogs usually after sexual maturity (ten to
twelve months

26. CASTRATION IN DOG
26
INDICATIONS-
1. Prevention of breeding nuisance
2. Neoplastic growths or crushing injuries affecting the testicle.
3. In enlarged prostate
4. Perineal hernia
5. To make the animal more docile (and domesticated).
ANAESTHESIA AND CONTROL-
Local infiltration; spermatic block or epidural anaesthesia; dorsal
recumbent state.
SITES
1. Pre-scrotal site: Mid-line in front of the scrotum.
2. Longitudinal incision on the ventral aspect of the scrotum

27. CASTRATION IN DOG
27
TECHNIQUES-
1. (Pre-scrotal site)-One testis is pushed forward to bring it under the skin
over the ventral aspect of sheath. An incision is placed over it in the
mid-line and the testis is squeezed out by mild presssure between
thumb and finger. The cord is severed after ligation and the testis is
removed. The other testis is removed similarly through the same
opening. The skin wound is closed preferably by subcuticular sutures
2. Each testis is tensed against the skin of the scrotum between the
thumb and index finger and an incision is made anteroposteriorly. The
spermatic cord is then separated into the anterior vascular bundle, and
the posterior bundle containing the vas deferens. The posterior bundle
(vas deferens) is divided by scissors. The vascular bundle is ligatured
and then divided to remove the testes. The skin wound is left open.

28. CASTRATION IN DOG
28
3. After removal of one testis as in technique 2, the other testicle is
extracted through the same opening by making an incision through
the median septum of the scrotum .
Covered- Method
The difference in procedure here as compared to the open method
is that the testes are removed along with the tunica vaginalis. The
spermatic cord is severed after ligaturing it over the tunica
vaginalis.

29. CASTRATION IN BOVINE
29
INDICATIONS-
To make the animal more docile and easily manageable when used as a work
animal.
METHODS
(1) Closed method. (2) Open method.
(1) CLOSED METHOD OF CASTRATION IN THE BOVINE USING BURDIZZO
FORCEPS
This method is preferred in work cattle because no open wound is produced.
The technique is simple. However the effect of castration is observed more slowly
(in about one month) than if castrated by the open method.
A- Burdizzo castrator (Burdizzo forceps) is used for doing this operation. Two
types of this instrument are available, viz., Burdizzo forceps with plain jaws and
Burdizzo forceps with cord stop jaws. The latter type is Preferrable.

30. CASTRATION IN BOVINE
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Points to remember in the technique are:
1. The spermatic cord should be held tense against the skin of scrotum
and should be placed between the jaws of the forceps and crushed
2. Avoid crushing the penis by mistake.
3. Do not crush the testicle or epididymis but only the spermatic cord.
4. The crushing lines on the skin of either side should not coincide since it
may cause sloughing of the scrotal skin.
2) OPEN METHOD OF CASTRATION IN THE BOVINE
INDICATION-
Open method is preferred for beef animals as it will bring about quicker
weight gain.

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