Standing hand-assisted laparoscopic ovariohysterectomy to treat chronic pyometra in a mare.

The research article presents a case of using a novel surgical procedure, the standing hand-assisted laparoscopic ovariohysterectomy, to treat pyometra condition in a mare, which was exhibiting uncharacteristic aggressive behavior and discomfort.

Introduction

• The research revolved around a 15-year-old Oldenburg mare that was displaying atypical aggressive behavior and indications of abdominal discomfort. These signs were consistent with caudal visceral abdominal discomfort.

Diagnosis

• The mare underwent a reproductive evaluation, which revealed that she had pyometra—a uterine infection—caused by complete transluminal cervical adhesions.
• As an initial measure, the mare was treated medically through disruption of the adhesions and uterine lavage—a therapeutic washing out of the uterus.
• Unfortunately, the adhesions reformed within six weeks and were unable to be disrupted manually, leading to the recurrence of pyometra.

Treatment

• To address the recurrence of pyometra, the mare was subjected to a standing hand-assisted laparoscopic ovariohysterectomy. This surgical procedure was introduced through bilateral flank incisions on the mare.
• The procedure encountered a single complication, a seroma—an accumulation of serous fluids in a pocket under the surface of the skin—at one flank incision, which resolved after it was drained.

Conclusions

• The study concludes that performing a full ovariohysterectomy in a mare is a complex task that has previously been executed under general anaesthesia.
• This research contributes a novel technique by being the first report of performing this procedure without putting the mare under general anaesthesia and without inverting the uterus through the cervix.
• This procedure, performed on a standing mare, introduces a less intrusive and potentially safer method of tackling similar cases in the horse species.