[Phytotherapeutic treatments of gynecological diseases and fertility disorders in cattle - a veterinary historical analysis]

INTRODUCTION

Fertility problems are the main reasons for culling dairy cows. Diseases of the female genital tract are also often the cause of antibiotic or hormonal treatments in bovine practices. The use of medicinal plants could expand the available therapeutics. The aim of the work was to analyze historical literature before the introduction of antibiotics in veterinary reproductive medicine. Five books in German language, published in Germany and Switzerland between 1878 and 1921, and one handwritten therapy booklet by the rural veterinarian Carl Ammann-Honegger (1879-1960) were systematically examined regarding the descriptions (AW) on gynecological diseases. The herbal and additional ingredients of the recipe, the target animal species, the type of administration and the indication were recorded in detail for each AW. The six literature sources contained a total of 103 AW (79 administered orally, 13 locally, and 11 both orally and locally). Almost two thirds of the AW (61) were based on a mixture of different plants (two to seven plants), and one third of the AW (31) on a single plant. A total of 55 plants were recorded. The most frequently mentioned medical plants were plants of the genus Juniperus (J. communis L. (19 AW), J. sabina L. (13 AW)) and Linum usitatissimum L. (18 AW), Matricaria chamomilla L. (13 AW) and Gentiana lutea L. (12 AW). The treatment of the Retentio secundinarum was the most frequently mentioned indication (44 AW), followed by parturition preparation (17 AW) and endometritis treatment (15 AW). The most frequently recorded plants can be divided based on their ingredients and their effect into (a) energy- and protein-rich forage plants, (b) generally appetizing, digestive- and metabolism-enhancing plants, (c) medical plants with a specific gynecological organotrophic effect and (d) according to current knowledge, predominantly toxic plants. Besides the antimicrobial active immunity to defence against bacterial infections, a stable barrier funcion of the endometrium contributes to uterine health. The plants classified under (a) - (c) have at least the potential for a positive effect on the immune system and the endometrial barrier function and thus contribute indirectly to the uterine health.

[Interest of laparoscopic surgery in the management of chronic abdominal pains in the surgery "A" department of the of the Point G University Hospital]

AIM

to evaluate the contribution of laparoscopic surgery in the management of chronic abdominal pains of unspecified etiology.

METHODS

A retrospective descriptive study was conducted over a period of 49 months (March 2008 to March 2012), in the surgery A service of the Point G university hospital.

RESULTS

52 patients suffering from chronic abdominal pain for 3 months have been listed. There were 36 women and 16 men, with a sex-ratio of 2.25. The pathologies found in laparoscopy were: 16 cases of adherences, 16 cases of gynaecological diseases, 6 cases of chronic appendicitis, 5 cases of chronic cholecystitis, 6 cases of abdominal tumors and 3 cases of intrauterine contraceptives in abdomen. Conversion to laparotomy was not made and mortality was null. No lesion was found in 11.54% of cases. The mean duration of hospitalization was 2 days. The duration of follow-up of the patients was 18 months with a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 24 months. No painful symptomatology was found in 6 months in 88.46% of the cases. Persistent stomach pains were found in 3% of the cases. 8.54% of the patients had an improvement of symptomatology.

CONCLUSION

Chronic abdominal pains put a diagnosis problem in surgery. Laparoscopy is a reference technique to diagnose this pain and to discuss them.