Caesarian Section

Drawing showing the position of the incision to gain access to the abdomen. This access is used to minimise the amount of subcutaneous fat. In addition the three abdominal muscle layers have merged into one layer.	Incise through the skin and muscle layer to the peritoneal layer. Penetrate the peritoneal layer with a scapel blade and then using scissors extend the incision.	The uterus is normally very obvious within the abdomen. Remove part of a uterine horn with a piglet inside.
Incise the uterus over the back of the piglet. Take care not to incise into the piglet.	Remove the piglet and pass to an assistant to encourage respiration. Clear the airways and if necessary use a respiratory stimulant.	Hold the edges of the incised uterus.
Remove adjacent piglets, higher and lower from the incision. Do not attempt to remove all the piglets through the one hole. Three piglets per uterine incision is adequate.	Close the uterine incision using an inverted Lambert stitch and absorbable suture such as PDSII or catgut.	Close the peritoneum cavity with Vicryl or PDSII. Close the muscle, subcutaneous and skin as normal

Surgical issues

Introduction	Spay	Caesarian
Preputial removal	Castration - piglet	Castration – adult
Scrotal hernia repair	Fat blindness