Respiratory Emergencies in Ruminants and their Surgical Interventions

Respiratory emergencies are often seen in ruminants. Important emergencies include obstructions in nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, and trachea. Ruminants with respiratory distress requiring surgery during the last 20 years served basis for this study. Respiratory distress and throat oedema due to acute haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS) was the most common emergency seen in this study. Nasal obstructions due to polyps and neoplasms were the second common emergencies. Thoracic injuries, pnemonothorax, fracture of ribs were treated, but were less common. Tracheotostomy was the most common emergency surgical procedure for the management of HS followed by rhinotomy for resection of nasal tumor. Management of cleft palate was found most difficult. Respiratory emergencies in ruminants were mainly diagnosed by clinical signs. Need of radiological other diagnostic imaging techniques were not really essential for diagnosing respiratory emergencies in ruminants.