Laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy in standing horses.

The research presents a study on the use of laparoscopy, a less invasive surgical procedure, for the removal of undescended testes (cryptorchidism) in standing horses. The findings suggest that this procedure is feasible, safe, and practical, especially in young horses.

Study Design and Methodology

• The research was designed as a prospective clinical study involving the participation of eleven client-owned horses, whose ages ranged from 4 months to 2 years.
• The first stage of the operation involved abdominal insufflation or the injection of gas into the abdomen. This was done using a 20 F insufflation tube, which was attached to a standard carbon dioxide pressure tank with a low pressure regulator.
• Next, a tool known as a trocar and a laparoscope, an instrument which allows a surgeon to visualize the internal organs, were placed in the horse’s flank on the same side as the undescended testes.
• Once the testes were identified, local anesthesia was administered to numb the structures that were to be manipulated throughout the operation. This was done through the operative laparoscope’s instrument channel using a catheter with a needle attached to it.

Surgical Procedure and Results

• The testes were then grasped with large laparoscopic forceps and moved out through the abdominal wall. The ligation (tying off) and transection (cutting) of the mesorchium, which is the structure connecting the testes to the inner body, were done outside the body (extracorporeally).
• The dropped testes were finally removed using a standard technique while the horse was still standing.
• The results showed minor complications, with one horse experiencing mild colic (abdominal pain). The average surgical time for the standing laparoscopic procedure and castration of the colts was approximately 59 minutes.

Conclusions

• Based on the results, the authors conclude that standing laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy, using the techniques and instruments described, is a safe and practical technique for young horses.
• This research may have significant implications for veterinary practice, particularly in the field of equine surgery, offering an alternative, less invasive procedure for the issue of cryptorchidism in horses.