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Laparoscopically assisted cecal cannulation in standing horses.
Abstract: Access to the equine cecum is required for various therapeutic and experimental procedures, including decompression, fluid therapy, and transfaunation. Traditional approaches via laparotomy are highly invasive. This study aimed to describe a minimally invasive, laparoscopically assisted technique for cecal cannulation in standing horses. Unassigned: Seven horses underwent the procedure under sedation and paravertebral anesthesia. Two right flank accesses were created: a 10-mm laparoscopic port for visualization and a 2-cm minilaparotomy for cecal exteriorization. A Foley catheter was inserted via typhlotomy and secured with seromuscular sutures. Postoperative management included clinical monitoring and two sessions of intracecal fluid therapy. Unassigned: The technique was successfully completed in six of seven horses (85.7%). The catheter remained functional and was used for repeated fluid administration over 22 days without leakage. Horses maintained normal appetite, behaviour, and intestinal motility. One horse developed fatal peritonitis following immediate postoperative fluid therapy, highlighting the importance of a 24-48 h recovery period before high-volume infusion. Local wound exudation was managed effectively without systemic complications. Unassigned: This standing laparoscopic technique provides a safe, practical, and minimally invasive method for establishing long-term cecal access. It offers a significant advantage over traditional laparotomy by reducing surgical trauma and enabling repeated postoperative therapeutic interventions for conditions like impaction or dysbiosis.
Copyright © 2026 Carvalho, de Souza, Avanza, Teixeira, Silva, da Silva Cardoso, Novais, de Oliveira Monteiro, Viana, Monteiro, Teixeira and Filho.
Publication Date: 2026-01-09 PubMed ID: 41585512PubMed Central: PMC12827148DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1717140Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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Overview
- This study describes a minimally invasive laparoscopic technique to place a cannula into the cecum of standing horses, allowing for repeated therapeutic procedures while minimizing surgical trauma compared to traditional open surgery.
Background and Objective
- The equine cecum is an important site for therapeutic interventions such as decompression, fluid therapy, and transfaunation (transfer of gut microbes).
- Traditional access to the cecum typically involves laparotomy (open abdominal surgery), which is highly invasive and requires general anesthesia.
- The research aimed to develop and describe a laparoscopically assisted method to cannulate the cecum in standing (awake but sedated) horses, hoping to reduce invasiveness and improve recovery.
Methodology
- Seven horses were sedated and received paravertebral nerve blocks for local anesthesia.
- A two-access approach was used on the right flank:
- A 10-mm laparoscopic port was created to allow visualization inside the abdomen.
- A 2-cm minilaparotomy (small incision) was made to exteriorize the cecum for cannulation.
- Using this access, a typhlotomy (incision into the cecum) was performed and a Foley catheter was inserted into the cecum.
- The catheter was secured with seromuscular sutures to prevent leakage or displacement.
- After surgery, horses underwent clinical monitoring and received two treatments of intracecal fluid therapy via the catheter.
Results
- The technique was successful in 6 out of 7 horses (85.7% success rate).
- The catheter remained functional for up to 22 days postoperatively, allowing repeated fluid administration without leakage.
- Horses showed normal appetite, behavior, and intestinal motility throughout the post-surgery period.
- One horse developed fatal peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal lining) after immediate fluid therapy following surgery, indicating the necessity for a 24- to 48-hour recovery period before administering large volumes of fluids.
- Some local wound exudation (fluid discharge from the incision) occurred but was effectively managed and did not lead to systemic complications.
Conclusions and Clinical Significance
- The described laparoscopically assisted technique for cecal cannulation in standing horses is safe and practical.
- This minimally invasive approach offers significant advantages over traditional laparotomy by:
- Reducing surgical trauma and associated risks.
- Allowing the horse to remain standing and avoid general anesthesia.
- Enabling long-term, repeated postoperative access to the cecum.
- Such access facilitates ongoing therapeutic interventions for conditions like impaction or dysbiosis, potentially improving equine gastrointestinal management.
Cite This Article
APA
Carvalho BVL, de Souza MCN, Avanza MFB, Teixeira RBC, Silva JRB, da Silva Cardoso T, Novais LGES, de Oliveira Monteiro FD, Viana RB, Monteiro BM, Teixeira PPM, Filho JDR.
(2026).
Laparoscopically assisted cecal cannulation in standing horses.
Front Vet Sci, 12, 1717140.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1717140 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Departamento de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Departamento de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Departamento de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Departamento de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Departamento de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Instituto of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará(UFPA), Castanhal, Pará, Brazil.
- Instituto of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará(UFPA), Castanhal, Pará, Brazil.
- Federal Institute of Tocantins (IFTO), Araguatins, Tocantins, Brazil.
- Institute of Health and Animal Production, Federal Rural University of the Amazon, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
- Institute of Health and Animal Production, Federal Rural University of the Amazon, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
- Instituto of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará(UFPA), Castanhal, Pará, Brazil.
- Departamento de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV), Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The author(s) declared that this work was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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