Effects of Different Tissue Closure Techniques And Omentopexy on Incisional Wound Healing in West African Dwarf (WAD) Goats

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.