Effect of surgical correction of left displaced abomasum by means of omentopexy via right flank laparotomy or two-step laparoscopy-guided abomasopexy on postoperative abomasal emptying rate in lactating dairy cows

To compare the effects of surgical correction of left displaced abomasum (LDA) by means of omentopexy via right flank laparotomy or 2-step laparoscopy-guided abomasopexy on postoperative abomasal emptying rate in lactating dairy cows. Controlled clinical trial. 30 lactating dairy cows with an LDA. Cows were alternately assigned to 2 groups of 15 cows each to receive surgical correction of LDA by means of 2-step laparoscopy-guided abomasopexy or omentopexy via right flank laparotomy.

A 50% D-xylose solution (0.5 g/kg [0.23 g/lb]) was injected into the abomasal lumen during surgery. Jugular venous blood samples for determination of serum D-xylose concentration were periodically obtained after injection. Abomasal emptying rate was evaluated by pharmacokinetic determination of the time to modeled maximal serum D-xylose concentration (T(max-model)).

Mean +/- SD abomasal emptying rate was significantly faster after laparoscopy-guided abomasopexy (T(max-model), 192 +/- 51 minutes) than after omentopexy via right flank laparotomy (T(max-model), 264 +/- 94 minutes). Rumen contraction rate and milk yield increased faster after laparoscopy-guided abomasopexy, compared with values obtained after omentopexy; however, milk yield did not differ after the 2 procedures.

Amelioration of abomasal hypomotility after laparoscopy-guided abomasopexy rather than omentopexy via right flank laparotomy may result in faster clinical improvement in the immediate postoperative period in cows undergoing correction of an LDA.