Puerperium Flashcards
What 4 key things happen during puerperium?
Involution
Regeneration of the endometrium
Elimination of contaminants
Resumption of cycling
What 4 important disorders can affect puerperium?
Dystocia
RFM
Uterine prolapse
Uterine disease
How long does it take for the uterus to a) half in diameter b) half in length?
5 days
15 days
How many days PP should the entire uterus be palpabel per rectum?
8-10 days
Complete involution occurs in how many days?
26-50
By how many days PP should it be difficult to get your hand into the cervix?
10-12 days
By how many days should you be able to fit only 2 fingers into the cervis?
4 days
What hormones control involution?
Prostaglandins and oxytocin. Can give to accelerate.
Caruncles bcome ischaemic and necrotic. Their size is considerably reduced by day..
25
What is the lochial discharge and when does it occur?
Sloughing of necrotic material from the uterus. Days 2-9pp
Should the lochial discharge have an odour?
No, should not smell fetid
The caruncular and inter-caruncular epithelium becomes covered with…
endometrial epithelium
Name 5 common contaminants of the uterus at the time of calving
E coli Truperella pyogenes Staph Strep Fusobacterium necrophorum
What acts as an ideal growth material for the bacteria that enter the uterus?
lochial discharge
What are the 2 main ways in which bacteria are removed from the uterus?
Contraction of the uterus
Phagocytosis by leucocytes
When does the first FSH increase occur pp?
7-10 days
1st pp follicular wave
why might the luteal phase be shorter in the first cycle?
poor preovulatory development of the follicle –> inadequate luteinisation
what are the 3 things about dystocia that make RFM & uterine disease more likely?
physical deformity of the vulva and cervix
physical damage to tissues
Uterine inertia
When does uterine prolapse usually occur?
First 24h after calving
What electrolyte should you always give cows that have had a uterine prolapse?
Calcium
Should you always give epidural, antibiotics and NSAIDs to uterine prolapses?
yep
Can also give oxytocin
3 reasons for RFM?
inadequate maturation of the placenta (e.g. premature)
failure of detachment of the foetal and maternal villi
Inadequate uterine contractions (hypocalcaemia, dystocia)
How long do myometrial contractions last for after calving?
36h
How long after a cow is calved should you do a veterinary examination?
5 days
