2012)

75
UTERINE TORSION IN MEHSANA BUFFALOES

G. B. Solanki, G. M. Siddiquee, K. G. Solanki, S. C. Patel and S. B. Desai

Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex

College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry

SDAU, Sardarkrushinagar - 385506 (Gujarat).
Recevied 2-7-2011 Accepted 2-11-2011
ABSTRACT

A total of 15 Mehsana buffaloes (10 pluriparus and 5 primiparus) were presented in TVCC,
Veterinary College, S.K.nagar with the history of initial restlessness and excessive straining with no progress in parturition since last 12-48 hours which later on became off feed, weak and anxious look. Uterine torsion was confirmed by per-rectal and per-vaginal examinations. The degree (angle), direction (right/left) and location (pre/post cervical) was identified. Uterine torsion was relieved by modified Schaffer's method in 10 cases and rest 5 protracted cases required surgical intervention (caesarean section).The survival rate was 100% in modified Schaffer's method. While 2 out of the 5 buffaloes underwent caesarean operation died after the operation. Ten cases were successfully detorted by modified Schaffer's method and 4 live calves delivered thus it was concluded that

Schaffer's method is most effective method to relive uterine torsion with better survival rate. However, in protracted cases caesarean is the method of choice
.

KEYWORDS : Primiparus, Pluriparus, Mehsana, Uterine torsion

INTRODUCTION

Buffalo

Uterine torsion is defined as twisting of uterus on its long axis (Roberts, 1982) and is the single largest cause of maternal dystokia which inflicts heavy economical loss to the farmers due to loss of either foetus or dam or both (Murty et al., 1999). The uterine torsion is the most important cause of maternal dystokia in buffaloes with an incidence of 83.33% (Srinivas et al., 2007). Several predisposing factors including excessive foetal movement at the time of parturition has been
reported to cause uterine torsion. The modified Schaffer's method of detortion is the most promising method with the highest survival rate (100%), while in protracted cases caesarean section is the last option having variable survival rate.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 15 Mehsana buffaloes. (10 pluriparus and 5 primiparus) were presented in Teaching
Veterinary Clinical Complex, veterinary college, S.K.Nagar with the history of initial restlessness and excessive straining with no progress in parturition since last 12-48 hours. All the cases were referred to the college clinic for expert intervention. On general examination, animals were off feed with loss of rumination, arching back, colicky symptoms, rapid pulse and respiration rate and subnormal

to normal temperature. The Schaffer's method of detorsion was employed in 10 cases and rest 5 protracted cases were managed by surgical intervention. Uterine torsion was confirmed by perrectal and per-vaginal examination. The degree (angle) and direction ( right/left) was ascertained by spiral folds formed in vagina in post cervical uterine torsion cases while in pre cervical cases tenseness of broad ligament was ascertained. The location of torsion such as pre or post cervical was also identified. For detorsion, animals were made recumbent in same direction as that of the twist with separately tied fore and hind limbs. The buffaloes were rolled in the same direction to that of uterine torsion with the help of many assistants and wooden plank. The vaginal passage of the animal was examined after each rolling to find out whether the rolling was effective or not, maximum five to six rollings were given to each animal depending upon duration and severity. In
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this study, hundred per cent detorsion was achieved whereas, Sloss and Dufty (1980) reported 84% success of attempted cases. In protracted cases, caesarean section was performed through left para median laparotomy. Caesarean operation was performed as per standard procedure (Roberts, 1982). After removing the foetus, uterine incision was sutured and detorsion was carried out as described by Sharma et. al. (1995). Fluids, corticosteroids, analgesics and antibiotics were
administered parentally at the time of surgery and post operatively atleast for five days. Skin sutures

were removed on 11th post operative day.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Clinical examination revealed that occurrence of right side uterine torsion (80%) was more common than left side (20%) torsion. Reason might be due to the rumen occupying left side of abdominal cavity and tends to prevent left side torsion, which is in agreement with Roberts (1982). In 10 cases

(66.66%), 180-270 torsion and in the remaining cases (33.33%) more than 270 torsion was
recorded. Post cervical torsion was more common (87.66%) than pre cervical torsion (13.33 %).These findings were in close agreement with those reported earlier by Mathura and Prabhakar (2001),In this study, uterine torsion cases were noticed mostly (66.66%) in pluriparus animals is in accordance

with Sharma et. al. (1995). However uterine torsions were also noticed in primiparus buffaloes (33.33%) which is in accordance with Sloss and Dufty (1980), while contradicted by Craig (2000) that this disease is often met within primipara, probably because of their peculiar wallowing nature and sudden sleeping in irrigation canals. After rolling by Schaffer's method in 10 cases foetal fluid rushed out of uterus and foetal parts were easily palpated and on application of slight to moderate traction to foetus, in 4 buffaloes live calves and in remaining buffaloes dead calves were delivered which was coincidental to Sloss and Dufty (1980) who reported 42 to 56% mortality of calves. While in 5 protracted cases caesarean section was employed using local infiltration (lignocaine HCL) and in these 5 cases dead calves were delivered. Intra uterine antibiotics-4 furea boli (Nitroflurazone 60 mg + urea 6 gm) were left in uterus and parentral antibiotic therapies was given using Intamox
,

(4 gm), with other supportive treatment including analgesics (Melonex 15 ml i/m) and
antihistaminic(phenaramine meleate 10 ml i/m) once daily for subsequent 3 days in all buffaloes, in addition parentral fluids therapy was given to restore the normal body condition.
In the present study 10 cases were detorted by Schaffer's method and 4 live calves were delivered. The survival rate of dam was 100% in Schaffer's method, while 2 among the 5 buffaloes underwent caesarean died after operation. It was concluded that Schaffer's method is an effective method to relieve uterine torsion with better survival rate, however in protracted cases surgical intervention is the method of choice.

REFERENCES:

Craig, J. F. (2000). Fleming's Veterinary Obstetrics.Greenworld Publishers. Lucknow.

Mathura, S. S. and S. Prabhakar (2001). Indian J. Reprod. 22(1): 45-48. Murty, K. K., V. Prasad and P. R. Krishna (1999). Indian Vet. J., 76: 643-645.
Roberts, S. J. (1982). Veterinary Obstetrics and Genital Diseases. 2nd Edn. CBS Publisher and distributers India. Pp. 186.

Sharma, S. P., K. B. P. Agrawal and D. P.Singh (1995). [bid, 72: 1180.

Sloss, V. and Dufty, J.H. (1980). Handbook of Bovine Obstetrics. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore,
London.

Srinivas, M., M. Sreena, N. L. Rani, K. S. Naidu and V. D. Prasad (2007). Buffalo Bulletin. 26 (2): 40-45.