Surgical management of caecal dilatation-torsion in three bovines

The present paper describes the diagnosis and surgical treatment of caecal dilatation-torsion in three bovines. Two adult cross bred cows and one Mehsana buffalo weighing about 300–350 kg were reported with the history of not passing of faeces for 6–8 days, partial anorexia, kicking at belly suggestive of acute to sub-acute abdominal pain. On the basis of clinical, per rectal and ultrasonographic examinations the cases were tentatively diagnosed as caecal dilatation. Caecotomy was performed in all the animals at the apex along the greater curvature. De-torsion was performed alone in the case of 90° torsion, while resection of devitalized portion of intestine at caecocolic junction was done in other animals 360° torsion followed by enteroanastomosis. The animals achieved normal defaecation and ruminal motility within 2–3 days and subsequently recovered completely.