[Sonographic control of wound healing after caesarean section in cattle]

In this study, the use of transcutaneous ultrasonography for the post-operative control of wound healing after caesarean section in cattle was investigated. In 20 cows, admitted to our clinic because of dystocia, a caesarean section was performed via the left flank. Post-operatively, the laparotomy wound was checked with a 5.0 and a 7.5 MHz linear probe every three days until the animal was discharged. In 10 animals, accumulation of fluid was detected ultrasonographically before fluctuation could be palpated in the peri-incision area. The fluid was aspirated after punctuation of the skin and was submitted for microbiological analysis. In 5 cases, sterile haemato-seromas were diagnosed and resorption of the process was followed by repeated ultrasonographic examination. In 5 animals, bacteria could be cultured and in 4 of these cases, development of an abscess was detected with repeated ultrasonography. In one cow, an infected heamatoma was found which remained unchanged, both ultrasonographically and clinically until the animal was discharged. In conclusion, ultrasonography does add important findings to the clinical evaluation of the laparotomy wound after caesarean section and can be used for early diagnosis of a disturbed healing process.