Transrectal Doppler Ultrasound to Study the Uterine Blood Flow Changes During the Puerperium in the Egyptian Buffaloes

The aim of the current study was to determine the changes in uterine blood flow as well as uterine biometry during the first 5 weeks after parturition in Egyptian buffaloes. The transrectal noninvasive color Doppler ultrasound and uterine biometry were measured at different time points -7, 0 (day of parturition), 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 after the postpartum period. The mean diameter of the uterine horn decreased significantly from day 0 to day 35 after parturition (P < 0.0001). The uterine involution was completed on day 28, as demonstrated by transrectal palpation and B-mode sonography. Peak systolic velocity (PSV), timed average maximum velocity (TAMV), blood flow volume (BFV), pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI), systolic /diastolic (S/D) as well as the diameter of uterine arteries were the Doppler indices for determination of changes in uterine artery blood flow during different time points after parturition. BFV of uterine arteries decreased linearly during the postpartum period in Egyptian buffaloes. The BFV decreased from 3029.21 ml/min (-7d) to 343.84 ml/min (35 d pp) and moderately (P < 0.01) to 731 ml/min on day 28. The TAMV and PSV showed fluctuation in changes during different time points postpartum (P < 0.05). But PI, RI, and SD showed significant increases during the different time points postpartum (P < 0.01). Altogether, the results show that transrectal color Doppler ultrasound is a successful tool for examining uterine changes during the first 5 weeks after parturition in Egyptian buffaloes. The robust changes in uterine blood flow were demonstrated during the first week of the puerperium, The PI, RI, and S/D were also suitable to investigate alterations in uterine perfusion during the next 8 weeks after parturition.