Abomasal and Caeacal Surgery, Wires and Bloat Flashcards
What is frothy bloat?
Stable foam produced on top of the rumen liquid
Blocks the rumen gas
What 3 feeds predispose to frothy bloat?
- Clover
- Alfalfa
- Finely ground grain
What is the treatment of frothy bloat?
Stomach tube, trochar
Surfactant (e.g. oil or commercial silicone preparation)
What are 4 clinical signs of traumatic reticulitis?
- SUDDEN milk drop
- Hunched up, Stiff gait
- Increased temperature (39.5)
- Inappetant, depressed
What is the ratio of primary to secondary rumen/reticular contractions?
How many should you hear in 2 minutes
2 Primary: 1 secondary
3 contractions in 2 minutes
What happens in the primary and secondary cycles of rumen/reticular contractions?
Primary: Mixing, contraction of reticulum then rumen
Secondary: Rumen contraction starting in caudal rumen, pushes gas to cardia
ERUCTATION
Which diagnostic test is most specific to reticulitis?
What would you hear with traumatic reticulitis?
Eric Williams test
Grunt immediately before PRIMARY contraction
What are 3 consequences of swallowing a wire?
- Vagal indigestion
- Local reticulo-peritonitis
- Pericarditis
What can medial local reticulo-peritonitis due to penetration of a wire cause?
Damage to vagus nerve (vagal indigestion)
Reticular adhesions
Abscess in medial wall
What are the 3 heart sounds heard in traumatic pericarditis?
- Pericardial rub
- Quiet/absent
- “Washing machine” sounds
Where do you incise in order to perform and exploratory rumenotomy?
Left sub lumbar fossa
Describe the lining of the rumen and reticulum
Rumen: Papillae
Reticulum: Honeycomb
What are two treatments for traumatic reticulitis?
- Exploratory rumenotomy
2. Bolus with magnet + NSAIDs and Broad spectrum antimicrobials
- What does a dorsal vagus nerve injury present as?
2. What about an injury to the pyloric branch of ventral vagal nerve?
- Enlarged rumen and bloat
2. Abomasal impaction
What are 3 other causes of Vagus indigestion?
Not related to traumatic reticulitis
- Actinobacillosis of rumen/reticulum
- Late pregnancy
- Fibropapillomas
What causes a displaced abomasum?
Abomasal atony
Excessive VFAs + inflammatory cytokines inhibiting motility
When does LDAs usually occur?
0-4 weeks post calving (sudden increase in space)
Where do you hear the characteristic ping in an LDA?
Between elbow and tuber coxae in a straight line
What is the risk with rolling to treat an LDA?
Ulcer rupture = fatal
How can you check if you’re in the reticulum whilst toggling a cow?
Litmus paper
pH < 5 if in reticulum
What are 3 disadvantages to toggling for treatment of an LDA?
- Risk of fistula formation
- Risk of getting kicked
- Can’t see inside abomasum (e.g. adhesions, ulcers)
What are the 4 surgical methods for an LDA?
- Bilateral flank (best, need two vets)
- Right side omentopexy
- Left side omentopexy (Utrecht)
- Ventral abdominal paramedian (best for visualisation)
What does pooling of H and Cl in the abomasum cause?
Metabolic alkalosis
Hypochloraemia
Dehydration
What should you administer post-op RDA?
Ca 40%
Propylene glycol
KCl
Where would you hear a “ping” in caecal dilation and volvulus?
Dorso-caudal sub lumbar fossa
What is the aetiology of caecal dilation?
Excess carbs fermented in caecum
Increases VFAs and reduced pH
Caecal atony
Accumulation of ingesta and gas
What is the difference in rectal exam of caecal distension vs volvulus?
Blind end of caecum:
Dilation - points to pelvic cavity
Volvulus - points cranial and lateral/medial
What does perforation of abomasal ulcers cause?
Acute local/diffuse peritonitis
What is the pathogenesis of abomasal ulcers?
Injury of gastric mucosa
Diffusion of H+ ions into tissue
Damage
What is the difference between Type 1 and 2 abomasal ulcers?
Type 1: Non-perforating, little intraluminal haemorrhage
Type 2: Major blood vessel perforates, severe blood loss, melena
What is the difference between Type 3 and 4 abomasal ulcers?
Type 3: Perforating, acute local peritonitis
Type 4: Perforating, diffuse peritonitis
How are Type 3 ulcers prevented from causing diffuse peritonitis?
Localisation by greater omentum
What type of ulceration occurs in cattle compared to calves?
Cattle - fundic
Calves - pyloric
What are 4 clinical signs of abomasal ulcers?
- Sudden onset anorexia
- Pale MM
- Melena
- Abdominal pain
What are 3 treatments for abomasal ulcers?
- Antacids (Mg oxide, Al hydroxide)
- Blood transfusion/fluids
- Surgical excision
What are the two sites of oesophageal obstruction occurence?
- Cervical oesophagus above larynx
2. Base of heart/cardia
