Evaluation of a carbon dioxide laser scalpel for disbudding Holstein calves: A pilot study

Abstract

Cautery disbudding has been shown to be a painful husbandry procedure. Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) surgical scalpels have been shown to decrease pain and inflammation in humans. This pilot study compared hot-iron cautery disbudding and a CO 2 laser scalpel for disbudding. The use of a CO 2 laser scalpel was not different from traditional hot-iron disbudding in pain measures.

Tissue-Welding Device: Considerable Advantages for Spleen Surgery Based on Histological and Cardiorespiratory Investigation

“…To evaluate the thermal effects of these devices on the spleen, contactless thermography by the “Flir-i3” thermograph was performed at an acceptable distance of 5 cm from the cut site at a 45° angle using a method adapted from Ref. [ 16 ]. Thermographic imaging was performed during the use of various surgery devices and the scalpel.…”

“…e thermal effect of an electrocoagulator on the tissue depends on the duration of application, the energy level, and the biological properties of the tissues [1, 2, 4-6, 8-10, 12-28]. A laser causes thermal damage, necrosis, and carbonization, not only in the damaged bone tissue but also in the surrounding soft tissues [1,5,6,8,9,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. ere is minimal information on the tissue-welding device and the healing process following its use, but the hypothesized working principle of tissuewelding devices is based on the denaturation of albumin, collagen, and elastin in the blood vessel walls [29].…”

Literature Review on Technological Applications to Monitor and Evaluate Calves’ Health and Welfare

“…IRT can be used as a tool to evaluate these pain procedures since alterations in the sympathetic nervous system can be perceived by orbital region temperature fluctuation due to a redirection of blood flow to skeletal muscles [ 98 , 99 ]. Most of the studies that use IRT to measure pain in dairy calves have focused on disbudding [ 100 , 101 , 102 , 103 ].…”

“…This study investigated the efficacy of an oral analgesic (meloxicam) as a pain mitigator for caustic paste disbudding, but the results suggested that it had a limited influence [ 110 ]. Kleinhenz et al [ 102 ] compared a different disbudding technique (carbon dioxide laser scalpel) from the traditional hot-iron disbudding. The goal was to provide a less painful procedure, which was not true in this pilot study.…”

“…The goal was to provide a less painful procedure, which was not true in this pilot study. IRT images were taken with a thermography camera (Fluke TiX580, Fluke Corp.) from the surface of the disbudded site to check for differences between treatments; no statistical differences were found in the maximum or minimum temperature [ 102 ]. Although pain can be prolonged for weeks after the disbudding procedure, IRT seems to not be able to detect differences between burn and uninjured skin in calves [ 104 ].…”