[Omphalourachitis with abscess of the urachus and rectal prolapse in a llama cria (Lama glama)]. / Omphalourachitis mit Urachusabszess und Rektumprolaps bei einem Lamafohlen (Lama glama).

This case report describes the diagnosis and therapy of an omphalo-urachitis in a llama cria. Additionally, the cria developed a rectal prolapse, which was successfully treated with a temporary pararectal tobacco pouch suture following umbilical surgery.

Blood gas analysis of bovine fetal capillary blood during stage II labor.

The aim of this study was to determine whether blood gas variables in fetal capillary blood during the last 30 min of stage II labor can be used to diagnose fetal asphyxia. Twenty-five newborn calves were used to investigate the correlation between capillary blood gas values obtained from the dorsolateral aspect of the distal pastern and those in arterial and venous blood. The pH, partial pressure of oxygen, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, concentration of bicarbonate, base excess and oxygen saturation were determined. The bicarbonate concentration (arterial, r=0.759; venous, r=0.766; both P<0.0001) and base excess (arterial, r=0.730; venous, r=0.807; both P<0.0001) had the highest correlations. Fetal capillary blood was collected during the last 30 min of stage II labor and the results of blood gas analysis were compared with those of arterial and venous blood collected immediately after birth in 38 calves. The pH (arterial, r=0.806; venous, r=0.885; both P<0.0001) and base excess (arterial, r=0.822; venous, r=0.871; both P<0.0001) had the highest correlations. The pH and base excess were significantly lower after birth than during the last 30 min of stage II labor. The severity of fetal acidosis during stage II labor can be easily and reliably determined using the pH or base excess of fetal capillary blood.

Blood gas and acid-base analysis of arterial blood in 57 newborn calves.

The pH, partial pressure of oxygen (pO(2)), partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO(2)), concentration of bicarbonate (HCO(3)(-)), base excess and oxygen saturation (SO(2)) were measured in venous and arterial blood from 57 newborn calves from 55 dams. Blood samples were collected immediately after birth and 30 minutes, four, 12 and 24 hours later from a jugular vein and a caudal auricular artery. The mean (sd) pO(2) and SO(2) of arterial blood increased from 45.31 (16.02) mmHg and 64.16 (20.82) per cent at birth to a maximum of 71.89 (8.32) mmHg and 92.81 (2.32) per cent 12 hours after birth, respectively. During the same period, the arterial pCO(2) decreased from 57.31 (4.98) mmHg to 43.74 (4.75) mmHg. The correlation coefficients for arterial and venous blood were r=0.86 for pH, r=0.85 for base excess and r=0.76 for HCO(3)(-). The calves with a venous blood pH of less than 7.2 immediately after birth had significantly lower base excess and HCO(3)(-) concentrations for 30 minutes after birth than the calves with a venous blood pH of 7.2 or higher. In contrast, the arterial pO(2) was higher in the calves with a blood pH of less than 7.2 than in those with a higher pH for 30 minutes after birth.

Ultrasonic transit-time measurement of blood flow in the umbilical arteries and veins in the bovine fetus during stage II of labor.

The vitality of the bovine fetus during parturition depends on an intact umbilical circulation to supply adequate amounts of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. The goal of the present study was to measure the blood flow in the umbilical vessels during stage II of labor and to determine when blood flow ceases in the umbilical cord. In 20 cows, ultrasonographic transducers were placed on one umbilical vein and one umbilical artery after rupture of the allantochorionic sac, and the blood flow volume per unit time was measured. At the same time, a pressure transducer was placed into the uterus to measure uterine pressure. Parturition was spontaneous in all 20 cows. In 20 live calves born, pH, base excess and lactate concentration were measured in the blood immediately after birth. During the last 90 min before birth the mean total umbilical blood flow (artery and vein combined) was 1.186+/-0.028 L/min. Calves with a blood pH> or =7.2 (n=13) had a higher mean total blood flow than calves with a pH<7.2 (n=7; 1.243+/-0.038 versus 1.095+/-0.038 L/min). In calves with a blood pH<7.2, the mean total blood flow decreased from 1.178+/-0.134 at 20 min before birth to 0.959+/-0.126 L/min at the end of stage II of labor. During this time period, the arterial blood flow did not differ between calves with a blood pH> or =7.2 and<7.2, but venous blood flow decreased significantly in calves with a blood pH<7.2. During uterine contractions, the total umbilical blood flow decreased significantly by 0.22 L/min. The blood flow in the umbilical artery and vein ceased before the calves were completely born.