Ultrasonographic diagnosis and surgical management of intussusception in cattle

The present paper describes ultrasonographic features of small intestinal intussusception and its surgical management in five cattle. The rectal examination revealed distended and tense loops of intestine and an empty rectum with mucus shreds. A firm mass and a tuft of mesentery with distended intestinal loops were palpable in 4 animals. Trans-abdominal or transrectal ultrasonography revealed “Bull's eye lesion” in 3 animals. Increased diameter (4.02±0.18 cm) and decreased motility of the small intestine on right side was recorded. Right flank exploratory laparotomy was done to relieve intussusception by traction in one animal, in the remaining four animals enterectomy and end to end anastomosis was done. The animals passed faeces after surgery and 3 animals fully recovered. Ultrasonography was found useful in supplementing and confirming the trans-rectal findings in cases of the intestinal intussusception and surgical intervention had favourable outcome.