Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Laparoscopic surgery for undescended testicles in horses
By Muñoz, Alejandro Merchán & Cribb, Nicola·Published in The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne·2025·Department of Clinical Studies, Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy in 10 equids using a single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) port device.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In this study, researchers looked at a new surgical method for removing undescended testicles in horses, known as cryptorchidectomy. They used a technique called modified single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS), which involves making a small cut to access the testicles without causing much damage to surrounding tissues. Ten horses, including two with both testicles undescended and eight with one, underwent this surgery, and the procedure went smoothly without any major complications. After surgery, two horses had a slight fever, but there were no other issues. Overall, this new technique was found to be effective and safe for removing the testicles in these horses.
Abstract
Minimally invasive laparoscopic surgical techniques are desirable in horses and other equids. A new approach called "modified single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) for equine cryptorchidectomy" is described, along with the postoperative outcomes of 10 equids. A SILS Port device (Covidien) was placeda 30- to 40-millimeterincision in combination with 1 or 2 15-millimeter para-inguinal incisions to exteriorize the intra-abdominal testicles. Ten animals, 2 bilateral abdominal cryptorchid horses and 8 unilateral abdominal cryptorchid equids, underwent cryptorchidectomy using the SILS technique. The median surgical and anesthesia times were 90 min (range: 75 to 135 min) and 150 min (range: 120 to 195 min), respectively. No intraoperative complications occurred. Two cases had transient pyrexia after surgery. No other postoperative complications were recorded. This technique reduced the risk of iatrogenic damage of the gastrointestinal tract, eliminated the need for additional instrument portals, provided an excellent maintenance of the pneumoperitoneum, and allowed easy testicle removal. None of the animals in the study developed postoperative emphysema. Key clinical message: The modified SILS technique was an effective approach for testicle removal in abdominal cryptorchids that did not result in any complications in the cases presented.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40927255/