Enlargement of the soft birth canal in cattle. Instruments of obstetrical aid in cattle

Question 1

Bloody enlargement of the soft birth canal

Incisio cervicis

Answer 1

Indications: - failure of the cervix to dilate (of involutional origin)
Not advised (reparation with scarred tissue!) -> narrowing the birth canal
Tools: Scalpel, Hetzel fingerknife
Method: medial, superficial incisions (mucosal membrane and longitudinal muscle layer only!)

Question 2

Bloody enlargement of the soft birth canal

Episiotomy

Answer 2

Purpose: protection of the perineum
Indications: - failure of the vulva, vestibulum and vagina to dilate
Method:
- Cows (and all other species except bitches) Episiotomia (bi)lateralis
o local or epidural anaesthesia,
o incision on one or both sides of the perineum,
o incision 1-2 fingerwide dorsolaterally, - at start, incision of the mucous membrane
only,
o suturing after aid.
- Bitch - Episiotomia media
o dorsal incision on the perineal suture,
o incision should end at least 1 cm under the anus,
o suturing after aid.

Question 3

Instrumentation of the obstetrical examination

Answer 3

1. Obstetrical snare → loop types
2. Obstetrical chain→loop types
3. Obstetrical traction bar
4. Wire loops
5. Snare introducers
6. Obstetrical hooks
7. Other obstetrical tools

Question 4

Instrumentation of the obstetrical examination

The obstetrical snare & The obstetrical chain

Answer 4

Their use: with obstetrical traction bar for:

• fixation (of fetal parts)
• direction (of retained fetal part into the birth canal)
• traction (to replace manual pulling)

Question 5

Instrumentation of the obstetrical examination

Obstetrical snare

Answer 5

Lenght: 2 m, originally made from hemp, with a loop on at least one end

Types:

1. Round type
2. Flat type

Advantages:

• easy to clean and sterilize,
• rost-free coating
• can replace obstetrical snares

Types:

1. short (80 cm) with an oval ring on both sides
2. long (190 cm) with an oval ring on both sides, in addition, two other oval rings 55 and 70 cm from one of its ends

Question 6

Instrumentation of the obstetrical examination

Obstetrical traction bar

Answer 6

Wood or metal

Question 7

Instrumentation of the obstetrical examination

Obstetrical loop types (Have to know the names!)

Answer 7

1. Simple snare-loop
2. Running-loop→double lined loop
   (fixation with a double loop, more safe, more traction force can be applied)
3. Whip-loop→double loop
   (fixation with a double loop, more safe, more traction force can be applied)
4. Loosening-loop
   (the loop size remains constant if the correct snare end is pulled. Can be applied for traction of the head)
5. Lungwitz nape-mouth-loop
   (the loop size remains constant if the correct snare end is pulled. Can be applied for traction of the head)
6. Gagny-loop
   (to correct lateral deviation of the head, double loop)
7. Mandibule-loop → double loop
   (only for reposition, but not allowed for extraction (can break mandibule) -> advised for dead fetuses)
8. Jöhnk’s snare-loop
   (to correct hock-flexion in bovine fetuses, btw 2 digits)
9. Saake lumbal snare-loop→needs two chains or snares
   (to extract small fetuses in hipflexion)

Question 8

Instrumentation of the obstetrical examination

Wire loops

Answer 8

For swine: Drahn’s wire loop
Rarely used
For companion animals other types can be used

Question 9

Instrumentation of the obstetrical examination

Snare introducers

Answer 9

Role: to enable the application of an obstetrical snare, chain or wire saw on an abnormally or far located fetal part, which otherwise could not be reached, because of the insufficient arm length of the obstetrician. Crucial tools during fetotomy.

Types:
1. Zwick-Sand’s snare introducer
Large loops on both ends, its stem is bounded, so that it fits to the parts of the fetal body
2. Schriever’s snare introducer
made from heavy materials (tin [Sn] alloy), solid, with one loop on each rounded ends, can fit into the palm, sinks in the uterus because of its weight

Question 10

Instrumentation of the obstetrical examination

Obstetrical hooks

Answer 10

Role: reposition, traction
TYPES:
1. Ostertag’s eye hook (blunt end, straight stem): both for living and dead fetuses
2. Harms’s eye hook (sharp end, bounded stem): only for dead fetuses!

Note: Only the Ostertag’s eye hooks (with blunt end and straight stem) can be applied for living fetuses!

3. Krey-Schöttler double hook
4. Cseh-Horváth semi-automatic double hook
5. Obermeyer anal hook
   Only for dead fetuses in posterior presentation The hook should be introduced through the fetal rectum and fixed on its pecten