Uterine rupture

ISSN 2398-2993

Contributor(s) :

Introduction

Cause: trauma to uterus or increased intra-uterine pressure.
Signs: dystocia or failure to calve; detectable tear before/after delivery of calf.
Diagnosis: examination per vagina or by laparotomy.
Treatment: surgical repair per vagina or via exploratory flank laparotomy delivery; uterine amputation; euthanasia on welfare grounds.
Prognosis: guarded.

Slaughter Slaughter: emergency slaughter for human consumption of the affected cow may permit entry into the food chain if no medicines requiring withholds have been administered and appropriate stunning/slaughter and bleeding can be carried out prior to removal to the abattoir (time from slaughter to arrival must comply with local and national rules/laws).
The cow must fulfil all regional requirements of being fit for human consumption. Significant hemorrhage may result in an anemic carcass which is ineligible.
In the UK the affected cow may not be transported alive to the abattoir under welfare considerations and the late stage of gestation (animals may not be transported alive for slaughter in the last 10% of gestation).
If at the time of presentation, the above conditions are not met, uterine amputation Uterine prolapse after delivery of fetus dead/alive, may be an appropriate salvage procedure to permit expiration of withhold periods. Similarly, uterine amputation may permit the cow to complete the lactation before slaughter at a later stage.

Direct costs: surgery and medications.
Indirect costs: effects on fertility and delay in conception with subsequent reduction in milk yield in dairy cow, or failure to fit calving pattern (beef cow or block calving dairy herd).
Cost benefit of slaughter for the food chain.

Concurrent hypocalcemia Milk Fever Calcium and phosphorus: overview should be treated before further obstetrical interventions or surgery.
Significant hemorrhage may have resulted in hypovolemic shock and necessitate a blood transfusion Blood groups and blood transfusion.