Surgical Treatment of the Left Displacement of the Abomasum an Update

Left displacement of the abomasum (LDA) has been described for the first time by Begg in 1950 (Begg, 1950). The incidence of LDA on lactation level varies between 0.5% and 2.2%; in particular circumstances, it may even reach 5%. LDA mainly affects dairy cows during the first month post partum. Thereby, the abomasum becomes dilated with fluid and gas and is mechanically displaced from its normal position to the left side of the abdominal cavity, between the rumen and the left flank. In healthy cows, the abomasum is always wider than long and located predominantly to the right of the midline. In response to the expansion of the gravid uterus, abomasal length decreases and width increases during the last 3 months of gestation. The abomasum returns to its physiological position within 14 days after parturition (Wittek et al. 2005).