[Plasma haptoglobin concentration in cattle with surgically corrected torsio uteri intrapartum]

In 26 cows with surgically corrected torsio uteri intra partum, severity of disease, wound healing and secondary diseases were correlated with plasma haptoglobin concentration. The objective of the investigation was to determine, if an increased plasma haptoglobin concentration indicates the severity of disease respectively expected wound healing disorders or secondary diseases. The degree of severity of disease was determined by rectally diagnosed elasticity of the uterus before the surgery. In the present investigation, the severity of a uterine torsion intra partum could not be evaluated by determining the plasma haptoglobin concentration. In 9 of 11 days of investigation there was no significant difference in the plasma haptoglobin concentration of animals with an elastic uterus (animals with good prognosis) in contrast to cows with tight uterus (patients with poor prognosis) found. The significant differences on the 6th and 7th day post surgery are related to secondary diseases in patients with poor prognosis, which develop evidently earlier and form stronger. The correlation of all cows with--to those without secondary illnesses shows, that 10 days post surgery patients with secondary diseases have a significant higher plasma haptoglobin concentration (p < 0.05) compared to animals without secondary illnesses. No correlations existed between plasma haptoglobin concentration and wound healing in the examined cattle. A postoperatively increase of haptoglobin indicates a higher risk of secondary illnesses and complications.