Combined transrectal and vaginal manual detorsion of pre-cervical uterine torsion in cows.

Abstract

The pre-cervical uterine torsion is a rotation of a pregnant uterine horn on its longitudinal axis with the point of rotation located cranial to the cervix. After diagnosis based on vaginal and rectal examination, uterine detorsion was first transrectal approached because the cervix was not open and blocked. Five cases are described. The direction of rotation in all 5 cows was clockwise. The head of the calf was manually caught with the left hand per rectum and the entire uterus swayed several times in a left-right direction. During left-right swinging of the pregnant uterus and fetus, manually through the rectum, when the right swing tip reached, then abruptly tried to turn anti-clockwise. The procedure was repeated several times. After partial transrectal detorsion, we could access the calf, vaginally, and detorsion with the right hand and the same procedure of swinging the calf were started, but vaginally. Even if the uterus was restored to the normal position, sometimes the calf remained in an unfavourable position; therefore, it was corrected in the dorsal position and prepared for a forced extraction. This is the first report of a successful combination of transrectal and vaginal manual detorsion of a rare pre-cervical uterine torsion in cows.