Clinical, Hematological and Surgical Evaluation of Calves with Congenital Intestinal Atresia: A Prospective Study

Congenital anomalies are frequently encountered in ruminants, and a substantial proportion of these abnormalities involve the digestive system. The present study aimed to prospectively evaluate the clinical, hematological, radiological, and surgical findings in calves diagnosed with congenital Atresia coli and to investigate the prognostic value of coagulation parameters. A total of 60 calves diagnosed with Atresia coli and presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Adnan Menderes University were included in the study. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein for hematological analysis, blood gas analysis, and coagulation profiling. Radiographic examinations were performed using both direct and contrast techniques to determine the location of intestinal obstruction. Surgical treatment consisted primarily of a lateral colostomy. Among the calves included in the study, 78% were male, and 22% were female. Breed distribution revealed that 95% of the animals were Holstein and 5% were Montbéliarde. Lateral colostomy was performed in 13 calves. One calf died during surgery, three calves survived for at least 15 days postoperatively, and the remaining animals died within a short postoperative period. Hematological and coagulation analyses demonstrated significant increases in leukocyte and neutrophil counts as well as prolonged prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). These findings suggest that disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) may develop in calves with congenital intestinal atresia, leading to increased mortality.