Standing hand-assisted laparoscopic ovariectomy in 65 mares.
Authors: Goodin Jacob T, Rodgerson Dwayne H, Gomez Jorge H
Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Standing Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic Ovariectomy in Mares Granulosa cell tumours represent a significant proportion of ovarian pathology in mares, often necessitating surgical intervention; this retrospective case series examined the efficacy and safety of standing hand-assisted laparoscopic ovariectomy across 65 mares aged 2–20 years, with a mean ovarian diameter of 17 cm. The authors reviewed operative records and histopathological findings, correlating ovary size with intraoperative bleeding following mesovarian transection using linear stapling devices, and documented all perioperative complications and hospitalisation duration. Histopathology identified granulosa cell tumours in 79% of cases (41/52 mares examined), with cysts, teratomas, and normal ovaries comprising the remainder; whilst laparoscopic observation revealed post-transection haemorrhage in 16 mares, overall surgical complications occurred in only 6%, consisting of one mare collapsing in stocks, one excessive incisional haemorrhage, and two mild postoperative colic cases—with 100% success in removing target ovaries. For equine practitioners, these results support standing hand-assisted laparoscopy as a reliable, low-complication surgical option comparable to alternative approaches, though the relationship between larger ovarian size and haemorrhage risk warrants consideration when counselling clients and planning haemostatic strategies during mesovarian transection.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Standing hand-assisted laparoscopic ovariectomy is a viable surgical option with low complication rates (6%) comparable to other approaches, making it suitable for clinical practice
- •Expect to encounter hemorrhage laparoscopically in approximately 1 in 4 cases after mesovarium transection, but this was managed without serious sequelae in this series
- •Most ovarian removals are for granulosa cell tumors (79%), so histopathology confirmation should be planned postoperatively to guide future management decisions
Key Findings
- •Standing hand-assisted laparoscopic ovariectomy was successful in all 65 mares with 6% overall complication rate
- •Granulosa cell tumors were the most common pathology (79% of 52 histopathology samples), followed by ovarian cysts (15%)
- •Hemorrhage occurred laparoscopically in 16 mares (25%) after mesovarian transection despite linear stapling device use
- •Mean ovarian diameter was 17 cm with no reported major intraoperative hemorrhagic complications requiring intervention