Laparoscopic intra-abdominal ligation of the testicular artery following castration in a horse.

This study presents a case of a young horse treated for uncontrolled bleeding following castration, where the bleeding was successfully controlled via laparoscopic ligation of the testicular artery.

Objective of the Study

• The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic ligation (a surgical procedure that involves inserting a small camera into the abdomen to visualize and treat the bleeding problem) of the testicular artery in horses to control uncontrolled bleeding following castration.

Background

• The horse involved in this study was a young, mixed-breed male weighing 364 kg (800 lbs) who was brought in for treatment due to uncontrolled bleeding post-castration.
• Prior to the referral, multiple unsuccessful attempts had been made to stop the bleeding through ligating the testicular artery via the scrotal incisions.
• The owner’s financial concerns led to attempts to stem the bleeding using pressure application to the inguinal region and formalin IV administration, both of which proved unsuccessful

Procedure and Findings

• Given the persistent hemorrhage, it was decided that laparoscopy should be utilized to ligate the testicular artery.
• The horse was anesthetized and placed in dorsal recumbency (lying on the back).
• A standard ventral laparoscopic approach was followed, meaning the procedure was performed through the front side of the abdomen.
• The laparoscopic procedure successfully stopped the bleeding, and the horse made an uncomplicated recovery.

Conclusion

• The study concludes that laparoscopy should be considered as a method for ligation of the testicular artery in cases of uncontrolled bleeding following castration in horses.
• This technique proved effective in this specific case, and could thus potentially present a viable option in similar cases of post-castration bleeding in horses.