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Veterinary surgery : VS1997; 26(4); 335-339; doi: 10.1111/j.1532-950x.1997.tb01507.x

Laparoscopic cryptorchid castration in standing horses.

Abstract: This article describes a new technique for laparoscopic cryptorchid castration in standing horses. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: Eight horses aged 11 months to 3 years and weighing between 300 and 643 kg. Methods: Food was withheld for 24 to 36 hours, and then horses were sedated with detomidine HCl (0.02 to 0.03 mg/kg) and butorphanol tartrate (0.02 mg/kg). The paralumbar fossa region was desensitized with 2% mepivacaine in an inverted "L" pattern and caudal epidural anesthesia was administered with either xylazine (0.18 mg/kg diluted to 10 to 15 mL with 0.9% sodium chloride) or a combination of 2% mepivacaine and xylazine (0.18 mg/kg). Initial laparoscopic exploration was performed from the left flank; in three horses, right flank laparoscopy was needed to complete the procedure. The spermatic cord was ligated within the abdomen with one or two sutures of 0 polydioxanone suture, and the testis or testes removed through a flank incision. Results: In five horses with no palpably descended testes, standing laparoscopy was the only procedure performed, whereas in two horses, the abdominal testis was removed laparoscopically, and the descended testis was removed under short acting anesthesia. In one horse, with nonpalpable testes, it was determined by laparoscopic observation that the testes were in the inguinal canal, and castration was performed under general anesthesia. No surgical or postoperative complications were noted. The right side of the abdomen, and especially the right vaginal ring, could be easily observed from the left side by passing the laparoscope through a small perforation in the mesocolon of the descending colon or by elevating the descending colon with an instrument or by use of an arm in the rectum. Conclusions: The standing laparoscopic approach combined with or without short-acting anesthesia to remove the descended testis is easily performed. Conclusions: This approach will provide surgeons with another option to castrate cryptorchid stallions.
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Publication Date: 1997-07-01 PubMed ID: 9232793DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950x.1997.tb01507.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article presents a new method for castrating cryptorchid stallions (horses with one or both testicles undescended) using a laparoscopic approach. The study reports no postoperative complications, concluding that this new approach is relatively straightforward and gives surgeons another option when treating cryptorchidism.

Methodology

  • The study involved eight horses ranging in age from 11 months to 3 years and in weight from 300 to 643 kg.
  • Before the procedure, the horses’ feed was withheld for 24 to 36 hours. Following this, they were sedated using detomidine HCl and butorphanol tartrate.
  • The paralumbar fossa region was desensitized using 2% mepivacaine applied in an inverted “L” pattern, followed by caudal epidural anesthesia administered with either xylazine or a combination of 2% mepivacaine and xylazine.
  • The procedure began with a laparoscopic examination from the horse’s left flank. In three cases, right flank laparoscopy was also needed to complete the process.
  • The spermatic cord was ligated (tied off), and the testis or testes were removed via a flank incision.

Results

  • For five horses with no palpably descended testes, standing laparoscopy was the only procedure performed.
  • In two horses, the abdominal testis was removed laparoscopically, while the descended testis was removed under short acting anesthesia.
  • In one horse, the testes were found to be in the inguinal canal and thus required a general anesthesia for the castration to be performed.
  • No surgical or postoperative complications were reported in any of the cases.
  • The research also highlighted that the right side of the abdomen, specifically the right vaginal ring, could be easily observed and accessed during the process.

Conclusion

The researchers concluded that standing laparoscopic castration in horses is easily carried out, and can be used in conjunction with or without short-acting anesthesia for removing the descended testis. They believe that this technique will provide veterinarians with another potential surgical option for the treatment of cryptorchid stallions.

Cite This Article

APA
Hendrickson DA, Wilson DG. (1997). Laparoscopic cryptorchid castration in standing horses. Vet Surg, 26(4), 335-339. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950x.1997.tb01507.x

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 0161-3499
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 26
Issue: 4
Pages: 335-339

Researcher Affiliations

Hendrickson, D A
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, USA.
Wilson, D G

    MeSH Terms

    • Anesthesia, General / veterinary
    • Animals
    • Cryptorchidism / surgery
    • Cryptorchidism / veterinary
    • Horse Diseases / surgery
    • Horses
    • Laparoscopy / methods
    • Laparoscopy / veterinary
    • Male
    • Orchiectomy / veterinary
    • Posture
    • Prospective Studies

    Citations

    This article has been cited 8 times.
    1. Fain H, Hendrickson DA, Buesing MT, Griffenhagen G. Retrospective Evaluation of Cryptorchid Sidedness at Colorado State University Between 1984 and 2014 and Oakridge Equine Hospital Between 2008 and 2023. Vet Sci 2025 Aug 23;12(9).
      doi: 10.3390/vetsci12090796pubmed: 41012723google scholar: lookup
    2. Muñoz AM, Cribb N. Laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy in 10 equids using a single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) port device. Can Vet J 2025 Sep;66(9):966-973.
      pubmed: 40927255
    3. Cerullo A, Gandini M, Giusto G. Occurrence and Definitions of Intra and Postoperative Complications Related to Laparoscopy in Equids: A Scoping Review. Vet Sci 2022 Oct 17;9(10).
      doi: 10.3390/vetsci9100577pubmed: 36288190google scholar: lookup
    4. Straticò P, Guerri G, Palozzo A, Varasano V, Petrizzi L. Current Use of Equine Laparoscopy in Urogenital Disorders: A Scoping Review of the Literature from 2000 to 2021. Vet Sci 2022 Jan 22;9(2).
      doi: 10.3390/vetsci9020041pubmed: 35202295google scholar: lookup
    5. Straticò P, Varasano V, Guerri G, Celani G, Palozzo A, Petrizzi L. A Retrospective Study of Cryptorchidectomy in Horses: Diagnosis, Treatment, Outcome and Complications in 70 Cases. Animals (Basel) 2020 Dec 21;10(12).
      doi: 10.3390/ani10122446pubmed: 33371184google scholar: lookup
    6. Koch DW, Simpson KM, Easley JT, Hackett ES. Laparoscopic Ovariectomy in a Domestic Yak. Case Rep Vet Med 2020;2020:8886670.
      doi: 10.1155/2020/8886670pubmed: 33204572google scholar: lookup
    7. Sassot LN, Ragle CA, Farnsworth KD, Lund CM. Morcellation for testes extraction in horses undergoing standing laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy. Can Vet J 2017 Nov;58(11):1215-1220.
      pubmed: 29089662
    8. Hendrickson DA. A review of equine laparoscopy. ISRN Vet Sci 2012;2012:492650.
      doi: 10.5402/2012/492650pubmed: 23762585google scholar: lookup
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