A Single-Port, Multiple-Access, Custom-Made Device Used in Laparoscopically Assisted Cryptorchidectomy in Standing Horses-A Preliminary Study.
Authors: Silva Rafaela das Mercês, Araújo Luiz Henrique Vilela, Cardoso Thiago da Silva, Franco Stephany Lorrane Ishida, Gurgel Heytor Jales, Cerqueira Pedro Henrique Lira, Carvalho Lucas Santos, Novais Luis Gustavo E Silva, Gonçalves José Leandro da Silva, Sousa Loise Araújo de, Albuquerque Rodrigo Dos Santos, Dutra Marcos Duarte, Ferreira Tatiane Teles Albernaz, Silveira José Alcides da, Silva Marco Augusto Machado, Monteiro Francisco Décio de Oliveira, Teixeira Pedro Paulo Maia
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Single-Port Laparoscopic Access Device for Standing Cryptorchidectomy Cryptorchid surgery in standing horses presents significant technical challenges, particularly when retained testicles are located intra-abdominally; this Brazilian research team developed a novel single-port, multi-access device constructed from routine hospital supplies to enable laparoscopically assisted cryptorchidectomy whilst maintaining the horse in a standing position. Initial cadaveric trials on five bovine fetuses demonstrated that the prototype allowed adequate abdominal cavity exploration and intra-abdominal manipulation using two Babcock forceps via a small paralumbar flank incision, establishing proof of concept. When applied to four standing cryptorchid horses, the device successfully facilitated complete cryptorchidectomy in two cases; in the remaining two animals, it effectively identified surgical complications (abdominal adhesions and ectopic testicular locations in the inguinal region) that would have precluded straightforward removal, thus providing valuable diagnostic information that informed clinical decision-making. The practical advantage of this approach lies in its simplicity—utilising readily available materials rather than expensive proprietary equipment—and its compatibility with standing surgery, which avoids general anaesthesia risks whilst reducing recovery time and costs for owners. As this remains preliminary work, further refinement of the prototype and prospective trials on larger horse populations will be necessary to establish whether this technique offers meaningful advantages over existing cryptorchid removal methods.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •A cost-effective, custom-built single-access multiport device can enable standing laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy in horses, reducing need for general anesthesia
- •The device successfully diagnosed retained testicle complications (adhesions, ectopic locations) when surgical removal wasn't immediately feasible
- •This prototype technique may expand minimally invasive surgical options for standing horses, though further refinement and larger trials are needed before routine clinical adoption
Key Findings
- •A custom single-port multiport device enabled laparoscopic exploration of the abdominal cavity in standing horses via the paralumbar fossa
- •The device successfully facilitated cryptorchidectomy in 2 of 4 cryptorchid horses using two Babcock forceps for manipulation
- •In the other 2 cryptorchid cases, the device allowed diagnosis of adhesions and ectopic testicle locations in the inguinal region
- •Wide abdominal cavity exploration was achieved in all 5 bovine fetal cadaver trials with effective intra-abdominal structure manipulation