References
Ovine Caesarean sections and assisted vaginal deliveries: a clinical audit
Abstract
Obstetrical difficulties in sheep traditionally account for the majority of sheep veterinary work in the spring. Throughout the 2021–22 lambing season 21 practices provided data on assisted vaginal deliveries (lambings) and ovine Caesarean sections. Information including lamb presentation, medicines administered, surgical preparation, morbidity and mortality were all recorded with the aim of understanding the choices made by practitioners and any variation in outcomes, and to compare these to the existing literature to produce best practice advice to the group. 7-day survival rates were favourable (86.2% of ewes lambed and 94.8% of ewes undergoing Caesarean section). All ewes undergoing Caesarean section received meloxicam, however, wider variation in other medicines administered was recorded, alongside significant variation in surgical preparation techniques of both the patient and the surgeon. A series of safe operating procedures and information guides were produced relating to antibiotic selection (following European Medicines Agency guidance), local anaesthetic use in sheep and, performing the sacrococcygeal epidural.
The IVC Evidensia Sheep Caesarean and Lambing Audit was produced by the primary author and approved by the Sheep Clinical Working Group (SCWG) with the survey taking the form of an online survey through Microsoft Forms. Questions recorded user details, patient details, presentations, treatments and results of intervention. Outcomes-related questions captured data relating to ewe and lamb(s) at 1- and 7-days post procedure, where relevant. Copies of the questions can be supplied on request.
The survey ran from 30th December 2021 until 31st May 2022, and was available through hyperlink, bitlink and QR Code circulated among veterinary practices in the group. Twenty-one practices provided data from 209 procedures within this 5-month period.
Data from 209 procedures and the associated postoperative checks were recorded through the survey, with the following splits between location, time and intervention required (Figure 1).
Findings were summarised and split into the following categories:
A high proportion (51%) of the ewes presented to respondents for obstetrical difficulties required a Caesarean section, with 13% of these being elective or where the attending veterinary surgeon did not attempt vaginal delivery first.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting UK-VET Companion Animal and reading some of our peer-reviewed content for veterinary professionals. To continue reading this article, please register today.