Laparoscopy

Dr. Rebecca Hersh-Boyle, DVM, DACVS-SA

Laparoscopy is minimally invasive surgery to address organs or surgical procedures in the abdomen. A laparoscope is typically a 5mm optic tube with a camera and light source at the end that can be inserted into the abdomen through a small dime-size incision. The laparoscope allows the surgeon to see the abdominal organs without opening the abdomen. In addition, the camera has a bright light source and magnification which allows the surgeon to see in greater detail. This has become the standard of care in human medicine. In laparoscopic surgery, long 5mm instruments are inserted through the keyhole incisions and used under the direction of a camera to perform the surgical procedure.

What are the benefits of laparoscopic surgery?

  • Small 3-5mm keyhole incision

  • Faster recovery

  • Faster return to normal function

  • Decreased pain

  • Shorter and less anesthesia

  • Reduced blood loss

  • Reduced handling and exposure of internal organs to contaminants— reduction in pain, inflammation, pancreatitis, and gastritis

  • Decrease risk of dehiscence (incision opening)

  • Decreased risk of hernia

  • Decreased infection rate

Surgeries currently performed at the clinic:

  • Spay— ovariectomy (removing the ovaries) and ovariohysterectomy (removal of ovaries and uterus)

  • Cryptorchid testicle removal— removal of a testicle that has not descended into the scrotum

  • Gastropexy

Laparoscopic Gastropexy

What is gastric dilation and volvulus (GDV)?

Large and giant breed, deep-chested dogs are predisposed to a life-threatening condition called Gastric Dilation and Volvulus (GDV). Other predisposing factors for GDV include purebred dogs, increased age, male gender, thin body condition, and high anxiety. This life-threatening condition occurs when the stomach bloats (fills with gas) and torses (twists over) preventing the inflow and outflow of the digestive tract. The result can require emergent surgery.

what is a gastropexy?

A preventive measure for GDV is prophylactic gastropexy. A gastropexy is a procedure in which the stomach is tacked/sutured to the body wall in order to encourage permanent adhesion between the body and stomach. While this will not prevent bloat, it can prevent the life-threatening occurrence of the stomach twisting and flipping over (torsion) during bloat episodes.

Laparoscopic Gastropexy

In a laparoscopic gastropexy, the camera and 5mm instruments are inserted into the abdomen through 5mm ports. the stomach is carefully held with an instrument and pulled to the right side of the body behind the rib cage. The stomach is sutured to the body wall using an internal suture technique. This is a prophylactic (preventive) procedure that is used to prevent GDV in predisposed dogs.

Laparoscopic Spay

How is laparoscopic spay different than traditional spay?

In a traditional spay procedure, there is a 2-inch to 5-inch incision made through the abdominal muscles to open the abdomen and remove the ovaries and uterus. During this procedure, the surgeon must manually move and rearrange the abdominal organs which can predispose to more inflammation and post-operative pain. The traditional incisions can take several weeks to heal during which there is an increased risk for infection or dehiscence (opening of the incision). A laparoscopic spay is minimally invasive with small incisions and therefore has shorter recovery time, decreased pain, potentially shorter procedure time, decreased anesthesia, and decreased risks of infection and herniation.