Laparoscopically assisted cecal cannulation in standing horses.

Summary

# Editorial Summary: Laparoscopically Assisted Cecal Cannulation in Standing Horses Therapeutic access to the equine cecum—whether for decompression, fluid administration, or microbial transfaunation—has traditionally required full surgical laparotomy, imposing substantial tissue trauma and post-operative recovery demands. Carvalho and colleagues developed and evaluated a minimally invasive laparoscopically assisted technique for percutaneous cecal cannulation performed under standing sedation, reducing surgical morbidity whilst maintaining functional access to the cecal lumen. The laparoscopic guidance permitted precise trocar placement and cannula positioning with direct visualisation of the procedure, avoiding inadvertent visceral puncture and ensuring secure fixation. By combining the reduced invasiveness of standing procedures with the precision of endoscopic visualisation, this technique offers practitioners a middle ground between blind needle access and full celiotomy, with potential applications ranging from acute colonic impaction management to controlled transfaunation protocols in dysbiosis cases. The practical value lies particularly in prolonged or repeated cecal access scenarios, where traditional laparotomy would impose unacceptable cumulative trauma, and in clinical settings where standing surgery reduces anaesthetic risk in compromised patients.

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Key Findings

• •Laparoscopically assisted cecal cannulation was successfully performed in standing horses as a minimally invasive alternative to traditional laparotomy
• •The technique enables access to the equine cecum for therapeutic procedures including decompression, fluid therapy, and transfaunation
• •Standing laparoscopic approach reduces surgical invasiveness compared to conventional open surgical techniques

Conditions Studied

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