Multiple cesarean section in Jenny

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Equine Surgery
• Reproductive Biology

Background:

• Jenny dystocia is rare, often linked to postural defects and challenging to manage in equines.
• Limited published data exists on cesarean sections in donkeys, making the condition potentially life-threatening.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe three consecutive cesarean sections in the same donkey with a pelvic deformity.
• To present different surgical approaches for cesarean sections in equines.
• To offer insights into managing difficult equine dystocia cases.

Main Methods:

• A 4-year-old jenny underwent three cesarean sections over consecutive years due to a pelvic deformity resulting from a past car accident.
• Surgical sites included lower flank, ventral midline, and paramedian approaches under general anesthesia, with local lidocaine infiltration for live fetus delivery.
• Uterine closure involved a simple continuous suture pattern followed by a Cushing pattern, while skin closure varied, using non-absorbable sutures.

Main Results:

• Dead fetuses were removed in the first and third parities; a live female foal was delivered in the second parity.
• Postoperative subcutaneous swelling was observed and resolved in all cases.
• Wound healing and suture removal times varied based on incision site and healing extent.

Conclusions:

• This report is the first to document three cesarean sections in a single donkey with pelvic deformity.
• Different surgical approaches for equine cesarean sections were demonstrated.
• Simple continuous suturing is recommended for the first layer of uterine closure in equines due to uterine bleeding, and subcutaneous edema is common in donkeys.