COMPLICATIONS OCCURRING DURING THE CESARE AN-SECTION ON THE STANDING COW

A review of the complications which can occur during caesarean section in cattle is given. The most common complications are recumbency of t he animals during the operation and difficulties with exteriorizing th e pregnant uterine horn.Recumbency is associated with the use of alpha -adrenergic sedativa and the application of epidural anaesthesia. Most problems are encountered in dairy heifers pregnant from a dairy sire. Attempts to extract the calf before the operation increase the chance of recumbency. Difficulties to exteriorize the pregnant uterine horn arise mostly in cows, due to adhesions resulting from a previous caesa rean section, The experience of the surgeon plays a critical role in t he oucome. The use of cc-adrenergic sedatives makes the exteriorizatio n of the uterus more difficult, while the use of tocolytic agents faci litates the procedure.