Övervakning av ston i sen dräktighet genom transrektal ultraljudsundersökning av placentan

Sammanfattning: Abortion during late gestation is often caused by placental dysfunction such as placentitis. To prevent this from happening the placenta can be monitored pre partum so treatment can be started at an early stage. Methods for monitoring the placenta include hormonal monitoring, presence of clinical signs of placental dysfunction and ultrasonographic evaluation of the fetus and the placenta. Transrectal ultrasonography provides a very good image of the caudal portion of the allantochorion where an ascending placentitis normally establishes. An increased combined thickness of the uterus and the placenta, CTUP, has been associated with placental failure. This study included ten Swedish standardbred trotter mares in late gestation. They were monitored by transrectal ultrasonography of the placenta two times with approximately a month in between. CTUP was measured on each examination. All of the mares except two delivered healthy foals. During some of the examinations CTUP could not be measured correctly. This is probably due to lack of experience and indicates that more clinical practice is necessary to perform this routine correctly.