Cervical massage with sodium carboxy methyl cellulose for achieving complete cervical dilatation in successfully detorted uterine torsion affected buffaloes

Abstract

In this study, uterine torsion affected buffaloes, fulfilling the conditions for subjecting them to process of uterine detorsion, were successfully detorted by Sharma’s modified Schaffer’s method. Immediately following detorsion, fetal status and texture of external os of cervix was recorded. Texture of the external os was classified as grade 1 (smooth and soft), 2 (partially lobulated and moderately soft) and 3 (lobulated and hard). Buffaloes (n=19) with grade 1 or 2 cervix were immediately subjected to 15 min cervical massage, repeated maximum 3-times at hourly interval, with warm sodium carboxy methyl cellulose (SCMC). For control, 10 buffaloes (grade 1 or 2 cervix) were not subjected to cervical massage. Out of 19 buffaloes subjected to cervical massage, complete cervical dilatation was achieved in 15 buffaloes having grade 1 or 2 texture of external os whereas cervical massage failed to dilate cervix in remaining 4 buffaloes with grade 2 texture of external os. Histopathology of grade 1 cervix revealed edema and onset of inflammation in the cervical tissue whereas grade 2 cervix had necrosis set up in the cervical tissue. No differences were observed in the plasma progesterone concentrations of the animals in which cervix were later on successfully dilated or not, though plasma cortisol was higher in the former. It is recommended that successfully detorted uterine torsion affected buffaloes particularly bearing dead fetus should be immediately subjected to cervical massage for achieving complete cervical dilatation followed by per-vaginal fetal delivery, otherwise leaving the soft or moderately soft cervix on its own to dilate will lead to hardening of cervical texture followed by its failure to dilate.