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

Objective-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 abomaso- pexy on postoperative abomasal emptying rate in lactating dairy cows. Design-Controlled clinical trial. Animals-30 lactating dairy cows with an LDA. Procedures-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/lbJ) 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). Results-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. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-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.