Signs of abdominal pain caused by disruption of the small intestinal mesentery in three postparturient cows

• Published in: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Vol. 198; no. 5; p. 864
• Main Authors: Garber, J L, Madison, J B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-03-1991
• Subjects: Abdominal Pain - etiology; Abdominal Pain - veterinary; Animals; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - etiology; Female; Intestinal Obstruction - etiology; Intestinal Obstruction - veterinary; Intestinal Perforation - etiology; Intestinal Perforation - veterinary; Jejunal Diseases - etiology; Jejunal Diseases - veterinary; Mesentery - injuries; Peritonitis - etiology; Peritonitis - veterinary; Pregnancy; Puerperal Disorders - etiology; Puerperal Disorders - veterinary
• ISSN: 0003-1488
• DOI: 10.2460/javma.1991.198.05.864

Three Holstein cows were admitted on postpartum day 3 with signs of abdominal pain, inappetence, and decreased milk production. All 3 were depressed, tachycardic, and dehydrated. Right paralumbar fossa laparotomy was performed on each cow. At surgery, a rent in the proximal portion of the jejunal mesentery, with perforation of the jejunum adjacent to the mesenteric rent, was found in all 3 cows. All had evidence of severe peritonitis and gross contamination of the abdomen with digesta. Because of severe peritonitis and inability to exteriorize the affected segment of jejunum, all 3 cows were euthanatized. We postulate that the mesenteric rent occurred at the time of parturition, resulting in ischemia and jejunal perforation in the segment of jejunum adjacent to the rent.