Surgical management of suppurative pericarditis through ultrasound guided pericardiostomy technique in cattle

The present study was conducted in 14 cattle brought to the Veterinary College Hospital, Hassan, over a period of three years (October 2016 to October 2019) with the history of fever, decreased milk yield, exercise intolerance, coughing, recurrent bloat, dyspnoea, jugular pulsation, and brisket and submandibular oedema. All the animals were subjected to clinical, haematobiochemical and ultrasonographic examination; and based on the findings their condition was diagnosed as suppurative pericarditis. All the animals were then subjected to ultrasound guided pericardiostomy using Foley’s catheter and artificial insemination gun stilet. The pericardial fluid was drained out with the help of a suction pump and the pericardial cavity was flushed with 2 L warm normal saline followed by 200 mL of Metronidazole once daily for five days. Postoperatively parenteral antibiotic and supportive therapy was given for 5-7 days. Out of 14 animals three animals died by 10^th postoperative day, another five animals survived for 2 months and given birth to calves, four animals survived nearly for a year and calved, and remaining two animals were still surviving and one of these animalsl calved twice. It was concluded that the minimally invasive ultrasound guided pericardiostomy technique helped in recovery of suppurative pericarditis cases with minimal complications.