Transposition of the common carotid artery in standing cattle

To describe a method for permanent transposition of the common carotid artery (CCA) in standing cattle.

Experimental study.

Eight healthy, adult, lactating Holstein-Friesian cows.

Cows were restrained with the head and neck extended by using halters, head catch, and squeeze chute. Surgery was performed under local anesthesia and intravenous sedation. The right CCA was approached through a skin incision dorsal and parallel to the jugular vein. The skin incision was extended through the brachiocephalicus and longus capitus muscles. When the vessel was present, ligation of accessory vessels of the CCA and internal jugular vein was performed to facilitate exposure. The artery was sharply dissected from the carotid sheath and elevated by using Penrose drains. The muscles were closed in two layers, leaving the artery in a subcutaneous position. The incision was protected with a tie-over bandage for 1 week. Sampling from the CCA was initiated approximately 6 weeks after surgery.

The CCA was successfully transposed and used for repeated arterial blood sampling in all eight cows. No cows had intraoperative complications or evidence of surgical site infection. One cow had a postoperative suture reaction at the site of a suture used for maintaining the tie-over bandage. All arteries remained patent for use in subsequent studies.

Permanent translocation of the CCA was successful in all cows in this study and consistently allowed serial arterial blood sampling.

Common carotid artery translocation is possible without general anesthesia in adult cattle and is useful in studies requiring serial sampling of arterial blood.