Standing surgery among equine board certified surgeons: Survey regarding current use and trends.
Authors: Bonomelli Natacha, Bonilla Alvaro G
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Standing Surgery Among Equine Board Certified Surgeons: Current Practice and Emerging Trends Equine standing surgery literature has expanded considerably, yet quantitative data on its actual uptake among practitioners remains scarce. Bonomelli and Bonilla surveyed 218 ACVS and ECVS Diplomates (29.7% response rate) using a comprehensive 139-item questionnaire covering 36 procedures across seven body systems, collecting demographic data and information on procedural shifts between general anaesthesia and standing approaches. The majority (58.9%) had performed standing surgery for less than a decade, whilst 69.5% of respondents reported shifting 14 of 36 procedures from GA to standing in the previous ten years; notably, 8 procedures were predominantly performed standing regardless of surgeon experience, suggesting these have become standard practice. Younger board-certified surgeons (diploma <10 years) utilised standing techniques more frequently for three specific procedures compared with more established colleagues. Avoidance of general anaesthesia and cost reduction were the primary drivers for adopting standing procedures, though equine behaviour and patient size or age represented the main practical constraints. These findings suggest standing surgery adoption is accelerating, particularly among recently certified surgeons, indicating that enhanced training and professional awareness could facilitate broader acceptance of this approach across the equine surgical community.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Standing surgery is becoming increasingly common among board certified surgeons, particularly those certified within the last 10 years—staying current with this technique is relevant to modern equine practice
- •Cost reduction and avoidance of general anaesthesia risks are driving adoption; consider whether standing procedures might benefit your clients financially and medically
- •Patient temperament and physical characteristics remain significant practical barriers—patient selection and proper sedation protocols are critical for successful standing procedures
Key Findings
- •29.7% response rate (218/733) from board certified large animal surgeons (ACVS and ECVS diplomates)
- •58.9% of respondents had performed standing surgery for less than 10 years, indicating recent adoption of the technique
- •14 of 36 procedures showed shift from general anaesthesia to standing technique in the previous 10 years (50.0%-92.9% of surgeons)
- •Avoiding general anaesthesia (179/218) and reducing procedure cost (111/218) were the two primary motivations for performing standing surgery
- •Horse behaviour (183/218) and patient size/age (94/218) were the main limiting factors preventing standing surgery use