Laparoscopic castration of cryptorchid horses: 20 cases.

Introduction: Laparoscopic surgery provides a direct means of assessing intraabdominal testes in horses and offers significant advantages over a laparotomy approach under a general anaesthetic.. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe our experience with laparoscopic cryptorchid castration in standing horses. Methods: 22 horses aged 1,5 years in mean, of different breeds and weight were admitted for laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy between May 2006 and April 2008. The retained testicle was the left in 7 horses, the right in 9, in 6 cases both testes were retained. Horses were restrained in a set of stocks and sedated with detomidine HCl in infusion. After surgical preparation of the paralumbar fossa region ipselateral to the retained testis, abdominal insufflation was initiated and maintained using a CO2 pump. After cannula and laparoscope placement the retained testis was identified and grasped. A ligature of 0 polydioxanone suture was napplied to encircle the mesorchium, mesoductus, deferens, and the caudal epididymal ligament. After cutting the spermatic cord, the testis was removed via a flank incision. When present, the descended testis was removed using a standard open standing technique. Results: No surgical or postoperative complications were observed. The median surgical time of procedures was 63 minutes. Discussion and conclusions: Laparoscopy allowed excellent visualization of the structures of the vaginal ring and facilitated removal of the abdominally located testis. The internal and external inguinal rings were not invaded, thus the chance of serious complications that may result during open cryptorchidectomy procedures was minimized. The standing laparoscopic approach to remove the retained testis is easily performed.