664 Veterinary Obstetrics 



extraction is frequently dangerous or impossible. Thus the veter- 

 inary obstetrist is forced to choose between hysterotomy and the 

 destruction of the patient. 



Technic. When a pregnant animal meets with a sudden and fatal 

 accident, is in death throes, or her death is imminent, Csesarian 

 section may be roughly performed by quickly making a free incision 

 through the abdomen at the most convenient point, exposing the 

 uterus, incising its walls, and promptly liberating the fetus. 

 When such emergency does not exist and the operation may be 

 more deliberately planned and performed, the technic may be 

 varied according to the individual case, the species of animal or 

 preferences of the obstetrist. Some operators prefer to make 

 the laparotomy upon the median line in the linea alba; others 

 prefer to operate in the flank. In the smaller animals, it seems 

 to be largely a question of choice on the part of the individual 

 operator, though evidently there are advantages and disadvan- 

 tages in each plan. In the larger animals, like the mare and 

 cow, the operation through the linea alba is impracticable under 

 present conditions, so far as the preservation of the life of the 

 mother is concerned, because the immense weight of the ab- 

 dominal viscera prevents the surgeon, with his present appliances, 

 from closing the abdominal incision in such a manner as to sup- 

 port the viscera and prevent their protrusion. 



In all animals the flank operation is evidently safer in reference 

 to prolapse of the abdominal organs as a result of the breaking, or 

 tearing out of the sutures. After the operation the flank wound 

 may be kept cleaner, since it does not come into so constant and 

 immediate contact with the ground or floor when the animal is 

 lying down. In the bitch and sow the flank incision has a fur- 

 ther advantage over that through the linea alba. In these ani- 

 mals the double row of mammae leaves the median line in a deep 

 furrow, which renders suturing difficult. 



One advantage of the linea alba incision is the possibility of 

 affording drainage to an infected uterine cavity, when such is 

 not available through the vagina because of some serious dis- 

 placement of the organ, such as irriducible torsion or transverse 

 rupture through the cervix. In a pet animal, the resultant scar 

 may be less objectionable in the linea alba. 



The securing of the animal for the operation must correspond 

 with the plan and the intended position of the laparotomy. 



