Intra and postoperative assessment of re-sterilised Ligasure Atlas for orchidectomies in horses: clinical study.

The researchers conducted a study to assess the effectiveness and safety of reusing sterilised Ligasure Atlas (a surgical tool) for gelding surgery (orchidectomy) in horses. They found that complications during surgery were limited, haemostasis (bleeding control) was efficient, and infection rate post-surgery was low.

Objective and Methodology

• This clinical study aimed to assess the intraoperative and postoperative performances of re-sterilised Ligasure Atlas (LSA) used in orchidectomy (removal of testes) of 35 horses in a single institution.
• The focus was to assess the quality of haemostasis (the process of stopping blood flow) during and after the surgery, as well as evaluating the cleanliness and asepsis (the absence of bacteria or other infectious agents) in the surgical area.
• The assessment involved unique parameters such as the quality of the seal of the forceps, the stickiness of the forceps to the tissues, bleeding and oozing from the surgically removed area, and the need for reapplication of the LSA.

Surgical Observations and Results

• While performing the surgery, researchers noticed that there were only minor complications such as mild sticking of the LSA forceps to the tissues and dulling of the blade.
• The need for reapplication of LSA was only required in one case, making the haemostasis complication rate only 2.85 per cent.
• No evidence of postoperative bleeding was observed.

Postoperative Assessment

• Post-surgery physical observations included evaluating the appearance of the mucous membranes, quality of the peripheral pulse, heart and respiratory rate, rectal temperature and blood dripping from the incisions.
• Haematology or packed cell volume and total protein were also checked for any signs of bleeding or any other abnormal conditions.
• Surgical infection, in terms of cleanliness and asepsis, was recorded in two horses. These horses showed symptoms of fever which was associated with surgical site infection, resulting in an infection rate of 5.71 per cent.

Conclusion

• This research underscores the effectiveness and safety of reusing sterilised Ligasure Atlas in equine orchidectomies. There were no major complications observed during the surgeries, haemostasis was achieved efficiently, and the postoperative infection rate was low.