CESAREAN OPERATION 709 



incision made in either the right or left flank. This cut should be 

 about 6 or 8 inches long. Sterile hooks are now introduced in the 

 margins of the wound and the fat pulled to one side. The small 

 knife is then taken, and an incision made through the shiny 

 peritoneal lining of the abdomen. This exposes the contents of 

 the abdomen and pelvis. The hand is now introduced and the 

 uterus located. This organ is then brought out through the in- 

 cision or opening in the flank, and wrapped around with sterile 

 towels wrung out of hot water; this for the purpose of preventing 

 chilling. It is a good plan to pack some sterile gauze around the 

 lips of the wound to protect the peritoneum and intestines from con- 

 tamination by the contents of the uterus when that organ is opened. 



An incision is now made into the dorsal surface of the uterus 

 over the body of the organ. Bleeding vessels are quickly picked 

 up with artery forceps and ligated with sterile ligatures to check 

 bleeding. The contents of the uterus are now quickly removed, 

 including both the pigs and the after-birth. The pigs in the oppo- 

 site horn from that over which the incision is made can be removed 

 by the introduction of a sterile forceps. 



The uterus is then quickly closed by a continuous catgut suture, 

 the towels and gauze removed, and the organ allowed to fall back 

 into place, care being taken first to see that all bleeding vessels 

 have been firmly tied. The two lips of the peritoneum are picked 

 up with forceps and sewed together with sterile sutures. The cut 

 in the muscles is next brought together, and, finally, the incision 

 through the skin is repaired. The animal is then liberated or 

 allowed to come from under the anesthetic. She should be kept 

 quiet and in a clean, darkened stall for several days. Diet should 

 be light, with plenty of fresh water. After-treatment consists in 

 the use of tonics and proper attention to the wound. 



It is advisable in this operation to use all reasonable speed, as 

 it seems that the more rapidly the operation is performed, the 

 better are the chances for recovery of the sow. In the hands of a 

 skilful operator the percentage of sows that can be saved by this 

 procedure is quite high, and the operation is well worth attempting, 

 especially in the case of valuable brood sows. The peritoneum of 

 the hog is especially resistant to infection, and, with a reasonable 

 degree of cleanliness, the after-results will be good. 



