Peritoneal fluid analysis of the newborn calves with intestinal atresia - a clinical approach

ABSTRACT

Background: Anomalies and fetal problems are encountered in all animals. Intestinal atresia is a congenitalanomaly of both humans and animals. Intestinal atresia has four morphological types, and they can be observedin jejunum, ileum, cecum, colon, rectum and anus (type I mucosal atresia, type II atretic ends separated byfibrous cord, type III atretic ends separated by a “V” shaped mesenteric gap or atretic end coil like an “applepeel”, type IV multiple atresia). In calves, it is also commonly encountered; it is still a question to be repliedabout the exact prognosis of the patients with intestinal atresia. Thus, the main objective of the present studywas to evaluate peritoneal fluid analysis results of calves with intestinal atresia.Materials, Methods & Results: Twenty-two calves were presented with abdominal distension and lack ofdefecation. Clinical and radiological findings pointed out the intestinal atresia. Blood samples were collectedfor routine hematological and serum total protein (TP) analysis. Peritoneal fluids were aspirated with steriletechnique from the caudal abdomen, and biochemical features, cell contents and microbiological cultures ofthe peritoneal fluids were analyzed. Following to preoperative, surgical and necropsy findings, intestinal atresiawere diagnosed as type II, III and IV in calves. Neutrophilic leukocytosis was observed in calves with type IVintestinal atresia. Red blood cells and platelet counts were determined in the peritoneal fluids. TP and densityvalues of the peritoneal fluid were high in all cases. These results pointed the presence of the acute infection andperitonitis. Statistical comparison of each parameter showed that there was no significant difference betweenthe types of intestinal atresia. Microbiologically, fecal origin bacteria were cultured in 12 calves.Discussion: In general, four types of intestinal atresia are encountered in calves, and all types...