Experimental use of Port-a-Cath® implantable epidural access in the analgesia of cows reproductive tract

• Grant number: 14/25036-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2015
• End date: February 28, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Augusto Araújo Valadão
• Grantee: Carlos Augusto Araújo Valadão
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The development of biotechnology in the animal breeding has improved significantly into economical and reproductive gains to the dairy or meat production industry. In this context, the rational use of animals with high genetic value is the key point. The techniques such as embryo transfer and in vitro fertilization has been applied in females to collect genetic material (oocytes and embryos). To perform these techniques is mandatory the use of epidural anesthesia to promote and ensure animal comfort and for to ease manipulation of the reproductive tract. It is known that the several punctions to accessment the epidural space with the needle can cause inflammatory reaction and fibrosis that reduces the anesthesia efficacy. In vitro fertilization and embryo transfer are performed during long periods (more than six months) with lesser than 30 days intervals between procedures. With that in mind, the objective of this study was to evaluate the patency and feasibility of the use of epidural catheter associated to a portal access fully deployed to provide epidural anesthesia, aiming to perform reproductive biotechniques in cows for a period of 17 months. (AU)