Removal of equine cryptorchid testes through an enlarged umbilical portal in dorsally recumbent horses after intra-abdominal laparoscopic castration.
Authors: Finley Connie J, Fischer Andrew T
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Cryptorchidism management in horses has traditionally relied on parainguinal incision extension to retrieve intra-abdominal testes following laparoscopic castration, yet Finley and Fischer's 2021 retrospective analysis of 79 horses (86% unilaterally affected) demonstrates that extending the umbilical portal incision offers a viable and less commonly reported alternative. Over an 11-year period, their surgical team successfully removed 90 cryptorchid testes using ligating loop application and/or electrosurgery during dorsal recumbency with Trendelenburg positioning, with only two horses experiencing minor post-operative complications related to the extended umbilical incision. The technique involved extending the umbilical portal along the linea alba for testis extraction, whilst simultaneously managing any descended testes via conventional closed castration with secondary intention healing. For equine practitioners, this approach potentially offers benefits in terms of reduced soft tissue trauma and altered incision location compared to parainguinal extension, though the retrospective design and lack of comparative data mean direct evidence of superiority remains limited. The low complication rate (2.5%) suggests the umbilical portal approach merits consideration as a preferred technique in cryptorchidism cases, particularly where minimising additional inguinal trauma is desirable or where anatomical factors favour midline access.
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Practical Takeaways
- •The umbilical portal approach is a viable alternative to traditional parainguinal extensions when removing cryptorchid testes laparoscopically in dorsally recumbent horses, with low complication rates
- •This technique may offer advantages in terms of incision location and healing compared to parainguinal approaches, though direct comparative data is not provided in this study
- •Surgeons should consider this method as an option in their laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy protocol, particularly for bilateral cases
Key Findings
- •90 cryptorchid testes were successfully removed through an enlarged umbilical portal incision in 79 horses over an 11-year period
- •Extended umbilical portal approach was used in 68 unilaterally cryptorchid and 11 bilaterally cryptorchid horses aged 1-14 years
- •Only 2 horses (2.5%) experienced minor post-operative complications related to the extended umbilical incision
- •Extended umbilical portal incision provides a successful alternative to parainguinal incision extension for testis removal after laparoscopic castration