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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernioplasty with a Polyether Ether Ke...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2025; 15(3); doi: 10.3390/ani15030402

Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernioplasty with a Polyether Ether Ketone Anchoring Device in Intact Male Horses Does Not Compromise Testicular Perfusion, Sperm Production or Motility Characteristics.

Abstract: A new surgical technique using a polyether ether ketone (PEEK) anchoring device for testicle-sparing laparoscopic inguinal hernioplasty in stallions was described in 2023 and is known as the PEEK harpoon technique (PHT). In breeding stallions, it is essential that the surgery is effective in preventing inguinal hernia but also that it does not impair the testicular function. This study aims to evaluate whether the PHT may affect testicular function. To achieve that, changes in the testicular blood flow, sperm production and motility characteristics were assessed 28 days after use of the PHT. Standing laparoscopic hernioplasty using the PHT was performed unilaterally in eight healthy (non-previously herniated) experimental intact males. The contralateral inguinal canals and testicles were used as control. Pre- and post-surgery Doppler ultrasonographic evaluations of testicular perfusion were performed serially. Bilateral castration was performed at 28 days post-surgery, and epididymal sperm were obtained from both testicles to analyze seminal characteristics. No significant differences were identified in regard to testicular perfusion and the sperm characteristics of the control and operated testicles, suggesting that the PHT-based hernioplasty would not compromise testicular function. Further studies evaluating effects over a longer period are needed, but our data indicate that the PHT is suitable for testicle-sparing inguinal laparoscopic hernioplasties in breeding stallions with a history or predisposing factors of inguinal herniation.
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Publication Date: 2025-01-31 PubMed ID: 39943172PubMed Central: PMC11815986DOI: 10.3390/ani15030402Google 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.

The research paper discusses a newly developed surgical procedure for inguinal hernioplasty (hernia repair) in stallions using a polyether ether ketone (PEEK) device, and its potential effects on testicle function. The results indicated that this new method does not affect the blood flow, sperm production, or motility characteristics of the testicles.

Research Objectives and Methodology

  • The research investigates a new surgical technique, the PEEK harpoon technique (PHT), developed for repairing inguinal hernias in stallions without damaging their testicular function. This concern is especially significant for breeding stallions, where reproduction capability is crucial.
  • The study involved eight healthy stallions who haven’t previously suffered hernias. The PHT was performed unilaterally, with the non-operated testicle of each stallion serving as a control measure.
  • Comprehensive pre-and post-operative evaluations were carried out, including Doppler ultrasonographic inspections of testicular blood flow. Additionally, sperm from both testicles were examined 28 days after surgery, scrutinizing characteristics such as sperm production and motility.

Research Findings

  • The comparison of the control testicles with the ones operated on using the PHT showed no significant differences. Both testicular blood flow and sperm characteristics such as production and motility remained unchanged, suggesting that the PHT does not interfere with testicle function.
  • Based on these results, the study concluded that the PHT may be a suitable technique for inguinal hernioplasty in breeding stallions, especially those with a history or predisposing factors for inguinal herniation, as it does not compromise the essential reproductive functions.

Future directions and Limitations

  • Although the results of this study were promising, the authors pointed out the need for more extensive research. Specifically, they advocate for studies examining the effects of the PHT over a longer period since this research only considered results up to 28 days post-surgery. Such investigations would provide increased assurance about the long-term safety and effectiveness of the PHT.

Cite This Article

APA
Vitoria A, Barrachina L, Romero A, Fuente S, de Blas I, Gil L, Vázquez FJ. (2025). Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernioplasty with a Polyether Ether Ketone Anchoring Device in Intact Male Horses Does Not Compromise Testicular Perfusion, Sperm Production or Motility Characteristics. Animals (Basel), 15(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15030402

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 3

Researcher Affiliations

Vitoria, Arantza
  • Servicio de Cirugía y Medicina Equina, Hospital Veterinario de la Universidad de Zaragoza (HVUZ), C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
  • Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
  • Instituto Universitario de Investigación Mixto Agroalimentario de Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
Barrachina, Laura
  • Servicio de Cirugía y Medicina Equina, Hospital Veterinario de la Universidad de Zaragoza (HVUZ), C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
  • Instituto Universitario de Investigación Mixto Agroalimentario de Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
  • Departamento de Anatomía, Embriología y Genética Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
Romero, Antonio
  • Servicio de Cirugía y Medicina Equina, Hospital Veterinario de la Universidad de Zaragoza (HVUZ), C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
  • Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
Fuente, Sara
  • Servicio de Cirugía y Medicina Equina, Hospital Veterinario de la Universidad de Zaragoza (HVUZ), C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
  • Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
de Blas, Ignacio
  • Servicio de Cirugía y Medicina Equina, Hospital Veterinario de la Universidad de Zaragoza (HVUZ), C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
  • Instituto Universitario de Investigación Mixto Agroalimentario de Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
Gil, Lydia
  • Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
  • Instituto Universitario de Investigación Mixto Agroalimentario de Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
Vázquez, Francisco José
  • Servicio de Cirugía y Medicina Equina, Hospital Veterinario de la Universidad de Zaragoza (HVUZ), C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
  • Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.
  • Instituto Universitario de Investigación Mixto Agroalimentario de Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The study was partially funded by DIMA, supplier of the different components of the anchoring system. However, DIMA did not influence the study design or the outcomes of the project.

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