Laparoscopic evaluation of the small intestine in the standing horse: Technique and effects.
Authors: Jones Andrew R E, Ragle Claude A, Anderson Dusty, Scott Coryelle
Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Laparoscopic Small Intestinal Evaluation in Standing Horses Diagnostic challenges in equine small intestinal disease often necessitate invasive procedures, yet standing laparoscopy offers a minimally invasive alternative to exploratory celiotomy. This pilot study examined the feasibility of systematically evaluating the entire small intestine via laparoscopy in five healthy adult horses, using four portal sites (one intercostal, three paralumbar) whilst animals remained standing under detomidine sedation. The research team successfully visualised the small intestine from duodenocolic to ileocecal plica in repeated procedures, with the examination itself taking approximately 39 minutes and total operative time around 73 minutes; postoperative pain remained mild, physical examinations stayed normal throughout the two-week monitoring period, and minor tissue trauma (petechiae and ecchymoses) resolved completely within two months. For equine practitioners, these findings demonstrate that standing laparoscopic small intestinal assessment is technically achievable with minimal patient morbidity, offering a valuable diagnostic option for investigating intestinal pathology without the recovery demands and complications associated with standing celiotomy. Wider clinical application could improve diagnostic accuracy in cases of small intestinal obstruction, strangulation, or other mucosal disease, particularly where tissue biopsy capability would benefit management decisions.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Standing laparoscopic evaluation of the small intestine is a viable diagnostic technique that can be performed safely in healthy horses with minimal discomfort and rapid recovery
- •The procedure causes only minor, self-limiting trauma (petechiae/ecchymoses) that resolves within 2 months, making it suitable for clinical diagnostic purposes
- •This minimally invasive approach offers an alternative to exploratory celiotomy for direct visualization and palpation of the small intestines when colic or other intestinal pathology is suspected
Key Findings
- •Laparoscopic evaluation of the entire small intestine was successfully completed in all 5 horses, taking 39±21.2 minutes for evaluation and 73±34.1 minutes total surgical time
- •All horses maintained normal postoperative physical examinations with only mild pain scores over 48 hours postoperatively
- •Second-look laparoscopy at 2 weeks revealed only multifocal petechiae and ecchymoses in all horses, completely resolved by 2 months
- •Three horses with long-term follow-up remained healthy 8 months after the procedure with no complications