ABSTRACT
This study investigated the effects of different tissue closure techniques and omentopexy in incisional wound healing in West African Dwarf (WAD) goats. Twenty-five male WAD goats aged 6 – 8 months were used for this study. The mean anaesthetic induction, analgesic and surgery time (omentopexy) were: 2.71 ± 0.31, 25.96 ± 1.01 and 58.41 ± 3.20 minutes respectively for all the groups. Serosanguinous exudates were observed at the incision sites between PSD 1 – 8 in GPs A and D and between PSD 1 – 6 in groups (GPs) B and C while purulent exudate was observed in one animal in GP D between PSD 3 and 4. GPs A and B displayed signs of mild pain on PSD 1- 4 while GPs C and D, displayed signs of mild to moderate pain on PSD 1 – 7. Mild adhesions were observed in group (GP) A on PSD 3 and 7 while complicated adhesions were observed in GPs C and D on PSD 14 and 4. Muscle section of suture sites showed that on PSD 3, GP B had moderate cell proliferation with forming connective tissue stroma and moderate phagocytosis. GP C showed acute inflammation with fibrinous exudation while groups A and D were characterized by muscle fragmentation and inflammatory oedema. On PSD 7, GP B showed severe phagocytosis, fibroblast proliferation and moderate connective tissue deposition. GP C showed moderate phagocytosis of the muscle fibre but still fragmented muscle fibre while GPs A and D showed autolysis of the necrotic tissue and little phagocytosis. On PSD 14, GP B showed extensive collagen deposition with granulation tissues fully in place. There was also severe collagen deposition in GP C while in GPs A and D, phagocytosis was still on-going slowly and healing depends predominantly on autolysis. On PSD 42, GP B showed moderate myocyte proliferation and fibrosis. GP C showed mild to moderate myocyte proliferation. GP A showed mild myocyte proliferation while GP D showed no evidence of myocyte proliferation, no fibrosis and only oedematous stroma. The relative increase in RT of all the experimental GPs from PSD 2 – 10 did not vary significantly (p > 0.05) from both the control and the pre-surgery value. The mean HR in GPs B, C and D increased significantly (p < 0.05) on PSD 2 – 10 and returned to pre- surgery value from PSD 14. The mean PCV of GPs A and C decreased significantly (p < 0.05) on PSD 6 and 10 respectively but subsequently returned to pre-surgery value while that of GP D decreased significantly on PSD 2 and remained so throughout the period of the surgery. The mean RBC in GPs A, C and D decreased significantly (p< 0.05) from PSD 2 up to 28, 21 and 35 viii respectively compared to the control. However, this decrease on PSD 2 subsequently returned to pre-surgery value. The significant (p < 0.05) decrease in mean Hbc on PSD 2 in GPs, A and B and on PSD 2 up to 35 in GPs, C and D when compared to the control, did not vary significantly (p > 0.05) when compared to the pre-surgery value. The relative increase in total WBC and neutrophil counts on PSD 2 in GPs A and B persisted on PSD 6 in groups C and D when compared to the pre-surgery value. Group C returned to pre- surgery value on PSD 10 while D remains high up to PSD 42 when compared to the pre-surgery value. The mean lymphocytes counts in GPs A and D decreased significantly (p < 0.05) on PSD 6 compared to the control. GP C was significantly (p < 0.05) high on PSD 6 compared to GPs A and B while D remain significantly (p < 0.05) high on PSD 14 up to 42 compared to the pre-surgery value. The mean TP of GPs C and D decreased significantly (p < 0.05) on PSD 6 up to 42 when compared to the control while in GP B; it increased significantly (p < 0.05) on PSD 2 and 21compred to the pre-surgery value. The mean albumin value in all the groups did not vary significantly (p > 0.05) when compared to the pre-surgery value. There was a significantly (p < 0.05) increase in the mean BUN in all the experimental GPs on PSD 2. GP A returned to pre-surgery value on PSD 21, GPs C and D on PSD 6 while GP B remained high up to PSD 42. The mean creatinine value in GPs C and D relatively decreased between PSD 2 up to 35 when compared to the control .The mean AST value of GPs A and B were relatively high on PSD 2 and increased significantly (p < 0.05) on PSD 10 in GPs C and D. These values subsequently returned to the pre – surgery value. It was concluded in this study that following left oblique laparotomy incisions, peritoneum sutured alongside with muscle layers facilitate faster wound healing and is recommended as a better tissue apposition technique in WAD goats.
