Outcome of bilateral equid laparoscopic ovariectomies.
Authors: Collar Elizabeth M, Duesterdieck-Zellmer Katja F, Huber Michael J, Semevolos Stacy A, Parker Jill E, Husby Kirsty A
Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS
Summary
# Bilateral Laparoscopic Ovariectomy: Outcomes and Behavioral Effects Undesirable estrous-related behavior in mares remains a significant management challenge, and whilst medical interventions such as altrenogest exist, surgical ovariectomy offers a permanent alternative. This retrospective analysis examined 51 equids undergoing bilateral laparoscopic ovariectomy between 2012 and 2018, with 41 cases performed electively (no underlying pathology) for behavioral reasons, tracking postoperative outcomes through telephone follow-up interviews. Ninety percent of elective cases showed improvement in the presenting behavioral complaint, though notably 27% of mares exhibited occasional estrus-like behavior postoperatively—however, all owners reported this as mild and manageable. Interestingly, a mare's prior response to altrenogest preoperatively did not reliably predict which animals would benefit from surgery (odds ratio 5.5, 95% CI 0.38–78.57; p = 0.21), nor did age influence surgical outcomes. These findings carry important implications for clinical practice: bilateral laparoscopic ovariectomy represents a dependable surgical option for behavior management in mares when owners seek a definitive solution, and the unexpected lack of correlation between altrenogest responsiveness and surgical success suggests these treatments should be evaluated independently rather than sequentially in case selection. The documented persistence of mild, manageable estrous behavior in some postoperative mares warrants explicit owner counseling, though the high success rate and absence of severe complications support this technique as a legitimate alternative to medical management for suitable candidates.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Bilateral laparoscopic ovariectomy is an effective surgical option for behavior problems related to estrus, with 90% showing improvement—consider offering to owners unwilling to manage seasonal behavior changes
- •Do not rely on altrenogest response as a predictor of surgical success; poor response to the drug should not exclude candidates from surgery
- •Counsel owners that some mares may still show occasional mild estrus-like behavior postoperatively, but this is manageable and should not deter them from pursuing surgery if indicated
Key Findings
- •90% of elective ovariectomy cases (37/41) showed improvement in presenting behavioral complaints
- •27% of mares (14/51) exhibited occasional mild estrus-like behavior postoperatively, but all were manageable
- •Preoperative response to altrenogest (67% of cases) did not predict successful surgical outcome (p=0.21)
- •No age effect was observed on outcomes in either all cases or elective-only cases (p=0.56 and p=0.36 respectively)