Cervicotomy in Cows: Indications, Instruments, and Surgical Procedure in Veterinary Obstetrics

Cervicotomy is a surgical procedure involving an incision into the cervix, typically performed to facilitate the delivery of a fetus during obstetric complications when the cervix fails to dilate naturally.

In veterinary obstetrics, cervicotomy is considered a last-resort intervention and is rarely performed due to the risk of severe hemorrhage, infection, and long-term damage to the reproductive tract.

Cervicotomy is performed only in cow among the domestic animals.

Indications

Cervicotomy in animals is performed in cases of dystocia caused by first or second-degree incomplete cervical dilatation due to fibrosis. It is not recommended in valuable breeding animals due to the risk of long-term reproductive damage.

Instruments

Obstetrical chains and a rope with handles; a pair of blunt- and sharp-pointed scissors, 1–2 haemostats, a needle holder, and No. 2 chromic catgut.

Restraint

Low epidural analgesia is used for this procedure.

Procedure

Obstetrical chains are attached to the fetal limbs and the rope to the head. Traction is applied to the fetus so that the cervix is stretched and brought posteriorly.

Using scissors, several incisions about 1 cm deep are made in the cervix over the tightly engaged fetal part.

Care should be taken to ensure that the incisions are made in the circular muscle layer only.

This technique may increase the cervical lumen so that the fetus can be delivered. The incisions need not be sutured unless severe hemorrhage develops. Permanent fibrosis or deformity of the cervix may result.