Delvescovo B, McOnie R, Pearson G, Pugliese B, Hackett ES. Emergency Standing Laparoscopic Treatment of Uncontrolled Post-Castration Hemorrhage in Two Geldings.
Animals (Basel) 2024;
14:2252. [PMID:
39123778 PMCID:
PMC11310971 DOI:
10.3390/ani14152252]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Persistent hemorrhage of testicular vessels is a potentially life-threatening complication of equine castration. Frequently, general anesthesia is required to retrieve and ligate the bleeding vasculature when standing wound packing and retrieval of the spermatic cord are unsuccessful. We propose standing laparoscopic ligation of the testicular arteries via the paralumbar fossa as a rapid, effective means of halting hemorrhage while avoiding castration site trauma as well as the cardiovascular and recovery risks of general anesthesia.
METHODS
Two geldings, 6 and 9 months old, presented for emergency treatment of severe post-castration hemorrhage of 10 and 24 h durations, respectively. Both geldings underwent standing laparoscopy under light sedation and the testicular vessels were ligated using a bipolar vessel-sealing device.
RESULTS
Testicular vessel sealing was successfully performed in both geldings by standing laparoscopy and resulted in immediate cessation of hemorrhage. In one case, a left paralumbar fossa approach allowed coagulation of both the left and right spermatic vessels. The procedure time was 25 and 35 min. No complications occurred, and both geldings recovered uneventfully.
CONCLUSIONS
Standing, laparoscopic ligation of the testicular arteries is a feasible emergency treatment in young geldings and can be applied in cases of uncontrolled post-castration hemorrhage.
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