The aim of this study was to establish a minimally invasive rumenostomy technique in sheep. Five 8-month old male sheep underwent exploratory laparoscopy using two 10-mm portals. The trocars were inserted in the paralombar fossa of the animals using thee technique of Hasson. During the examination, the rumen was visualized and grasped with a babcock forceps then brought near to the second portal and, simultaneously, the abdomen was deflated. Using a scalpel blade, a puncture incision was made in the rumen, through which a Foley Catheter (5 mL, 2-Way, 18 Fr/Ch, 6.0 mm) was inserted. After the cuff was inflated, a purse-string suture was performed around the catheter, penetrating only the serous layer of the rumen. Then two cruciate sutures were applied for rumenopexy. Finally, the muscle layer was synthesized, followed by skin suture, with two horizontal mattress sutures lateral to the catheter. A single dose of 20 mg/kg of oxytetracycline was administered and, if necessary, rescue analgesia with 5 mg/kg of tramadol. Ruminal fluid was collected daily to test the viability of the catheter, and wound healing around the surgical wound was evaluated. Surgical time and trans-surgical complications were recorded and post-surgical pain was also assessed, using a behavioral scale. After 65 days, the animals were sent to the slaughterhouse where carcass analysis was performed, mainly observing the place where the Foley Catheter was placed. All animals presented satisfactory recovery, and no need for analgesia at any time. Throughout the entire period, there was no extravasation of rumenal fluid through the surgical wound, not even when the catheter was removed. This study shows that the minimally invasive technique of rumenostomy performed was efficient, with extremely advantageous results, both in the execution of the technique and well-being of the animals. It may be still very important for nutritional and digestibility studies, as well as for relapsing tympani therapy.
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