Laparoscopic colopexy in horses.

This research article documents a successful test of laparoscopic colopexy in horses, a minimally invasive surgical procedure that prevents colon displacement by adhering it to the abdominal tunic.

Methods of the Research

• The study involved six healthy adult horses of ages between 3 and 23 years, weighing between 440 and 636kg.
• The horses were made to lie on their backs (dorsal recumbency) and their abdomen was inflated (insufflation) to a pressure of 15mm Hg.
• The laparoscope, an instrument used for visualizing the abdominal cavity, was inserted at the umbilicus, and other surgical tools were placed cranial to this and lateral to the body’s midline.
• A section of the left ventral colon (lateral taenia) was identified and pulled towards the peritoneal surface using Babcock forceps.
• It was then sutured to the peritoneal surface using two strands of size 2 monofilament nylon, sewn in a continuous pattern as visualized through the laparoscope.
• The horses were euthanized 90 days post-surgery, at which point the sutured area (colopexy adhesion) was examined both visually and microscopically.

Results of the Research

• The laparoscopic colopexy was successfully conducted on all six horses, with no intraoperative or postoperative complications.
• The initial phase of inflation required an average of 38 liters of carbon dioxide and approximately 10 minutes.
• For the entire procedure, on average 132 liters of carbon dioxide was needed.
• The average time taken to complete the procedure was 95 minutes.
• On examination, the surgical adhesion resulted in a firm, fibrous linking of the colon to the abdominal covering. Microscopic examination revealed this connection to be composed of mature fibrous tissue, with no signs of inflammation.

Conclusion of the Article

• The research found that laparoscopic colopexy is a viable surgical method in horses, enabling successful prevention of colon movement with minimal invasion into the abdomen.