STUDY ON THELORESECTOSCOPY IN THE BOVINE TEAT - AN ALTERNATIVE TO THELOTOMY AND SURGERY WITHOUT VISUAL CONTROL

The study involved 32 daily cows suffering from milk flow hindrance us ing theloresectoscopy as a minimally invasive endoscopic method for th e diagnosis and therapy, lit all cases the cause of the hindrance was diagnosed. Only endoscopy via the teat canal was necessary in 7 cases and in 25 animals an additional lateral approach to the teat cistern w as necessary. Twenty-five animals had avulsions of the mucosal lining, either in the Furstenberg rosette or in the papillary duct itself, as a result of a previous covered teat lesion. Two of these cases also h ad signs of chronic proliferative inflammation of the teat cistern muc osa. The cause of the hindrance in the other seven animals included av ulsion of the teat cistern in one, chronic proliferative inflammation in three and congenital abnormalities in the other three animals. Rese ction of ruptured mucosal tissue was performed on 25 teats via thelore sectoscopy via a lateral approach, via the teat canal in three cases u sing a radiosurgery wire snare incorporated in theloresectoscope. Post operative care comprised the local application of antibiotics into th e teat cistern, the insertion of a natural insert (wax bougie) into th e papillary duct and cessation of milking for 7 days. By the eighth da y after surgery, machine milking was possible. Owner's of 26 cases wer e questioned 6 weeks after the surgery. 24 cows were still in the herd s and milking satisfactorily or well. Although 18 animals exhibited a positive California Milk Test, udder health was normal. The results in dicate that theloresectoscopy provides an improved method of treatment compared to thelotomy and surgery without visual control.