48 VETERINARY SURGICAL OPERATIONS 



Celiocentesis. 



SYNONYMS. — Paracentesis abdominis, punctio abdom- 

 inalis. 



DEFINITION. — Celiocentesis is the surgical penetra- 

 tion of the abdominal cavity with a canula. The word is 

 specially adopted as an appropriate designation for the as- 

 piration of fluid from the peritoneal cavity. 



INDICATIONS.— Ascites of non-inflammatory origin 

 is the chief, in fact only, indication for celiocentesis in veter- 

 inary surgery. It occurs chiefly in aged dogs. It seldom 

 occurs in young dogs and rarely ever in the other domestic 

 animals as a special clinical entity. Abdominal dropsies in 

 herbivora are very rare, except trivial accumulations which 

 co-exist with general anasarca. The accumulation of suffi- 

 cient fluid to perceptibly distend the abdomen may some- 

 times occur in an old cow or old horse, but the occurrence is 

 noted chiefly for its rarity. Dropsies are found post-mor- 

 tem, but are seldom recognized ante-mortem in the large 

 animals. The one exception is the dog, which animal alone 

 seems susceptible to the particular lesions upon which such 

 accumulations depend. Ascites is a secondary condition, a 

 phase, a reflection of some serious abnormality of the 

 splanchnic circulation. It is a transudation of blood serum 

 into the peritoneal cavity, dependent upon a passive hype- 

 remia which in turn is caused by an obstruction to the portal 

 circulation. The obstruction may be in the portal vein, in 

 the liver, in the vena cava and even in the right heart. Any 

 influence that will prevent the free outward flow of the blood 

 that is constantly carried into the bowels by the arteries, 

 will, on account of the great extent of the peritoneurn and 

 its natural tendency to secrete fluid, cause more or less fluid 

 to accumulate that the peritoneum is not capable of absorb- 

 ing. Chronic renal afflictions, but more rarely in dogs than 

 in human beings, sometimes precurse or co-exist with the 

 disease. 



Ascites of dogs is chronic ; its course is slow ; the abdomen 

 gradually becomes larger and larger, it fluctuates, and the 

 subject emaciates slowly but with certainty. The condition 

 needs to be differentiated only from pregnancy and tumors 

 and sometimes from enormous distentions of the urinary 

 bladder caused by strictures of the urethra. Palpation, suc- 

 cession, the history of the disease, and the age of the patient 

 offer ample opportunity to make a correct diagnosis, but 



