Rumenotomy in small ruminants – a review

Abstract

Rumenotomy is one of the most widely used surgical techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of different rumen conditions in ruminants. It is commonly used for large ruminants, such as cattle. Although this technique is also applied to small ruminants, there is a lack of standardization. To date, it has not been fully described in the available literature, which is mostly from developing countries with a small number of peer-reviewed publications. This review is thus intended to summarize the body of knowledge related to the technique that has been published so far and make it available for clinical practice. The indications for rumenotomy, preoperative management of patients, different surgical techniques and postoperative management, including complications from the procedure, are discussed.