Surgical findings and outcome for dairy cattle with jejunal hemorrhage syndrome: 31 cases (2000-2007).
OBJECTIVE
To describe signalment; surgical findings; short-, medium-, and long-term outcome; and recurrence rate for cattle undergoing celiotomy because of jejunal hemorrhage syndrome (JHS) and to analyze risk factors associated with outcome and recurrence.


METHODS
Retrospective case series.


METHODS
31 dairy cattle with JHS.


METHODS
Medical records were analyzed. Follow-up information was obtained from owners of cattle surviving until discharge.


RESULTS
18 of 31 (58%) cattle undergoing celiotomy survived to initial discharge. Fifteen (48%) and 13 (42%) were alive 6 and 12 months after discharge, respectively. All 5 deaths within 12 months after discharge were attributed to JHS recurrence. Survival time was 12 to 85 months for the 13 long-term survivors. Six of 7 that died > 12 months after celiotomy did so for reasons unrelated to JHS. Recurrence rate among short-term survivors was 7 of 18; 1 of these survived long-term. A significant proportion of affected cattle were Brown Swiss, compared with proportions for other breeds. Manual massage of the bowel to break down clots was associated with a significantly higher short-term survival rate than was enterectomy or enterotomy. Medium- and long-term survival rate was higher in cattle referred 24 to 48 hours after onset of signs. Length of obstructing blood clots was not associated with outcome. Other factors were not significantly associated with recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
Survival rates were higher than those in other reports. Prompt celiotomy and resolution by use of manual massage were associated with higher survival rates. In this population, JHS recurred in 7 of 18 short-term survivors.
Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
Simon F
SF
Peek
Elizabeth M
EM
Santschi
Michael A
MA
Livesey
Mike A
MA
Prichard
Sheila M
SM
McGuirk
Sabrina H
SH
Brounts
Ryland B
RB
Edwards
D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D007579:Jejunal Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D008405:Massage / Q000662:veterinary; D016011:Normal Distribution; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013577:Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome