Equine hemi-castration: review of the condition, prevalence, aetiology, diagnosis and surgical management

Removal of equine cryptorchid testes through an enlarged umbilical portal in dorsally recumbent horses after intra-abdominal laparoscopic castration

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic removal of cryptorchid testes has been routinely reported through enlarged parainguinal incisions in dorsally recumbent horses. Outcomes following removal through an extended umbilical incision have not been previously reported.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the surgical technique of removing cryptorchid testes in dorsally recumbent horses through an enlarged umbilical portal after laparoscopic intra-abdominal castration.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

METHODS

Medical records were reviewed for horses that underwent laparoscopic removal of unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid testes from January 2006 to December 2016. Horses were placed under general anaesthesia, positioned in dorsal recumbency and then tilted into Trendelenburg position. Cryptorchid testes were castrated by ligating loop application and/or electrosurgery. The umbilical portal incision was extended along the linea alba for testes removal. All descended testes were removed by routine closed castration with the scrotal incision left to heal by second intention. Perianaesthetic laboratory values, surgical procedure descriptions, surgery and anaesthesia times, and in-hospital perioperative complications were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 79 horses, aged 1-14 years, with unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism were included: 90 cryptorchid testes were successfully removed through an enlarged umbilical portal incision. Sixty-eight horses were unilaterally cryptorchid and 11 were bilaterally cryptorchid. Two horses had minor post-operative complications related to the extended umbilical portal incision.

MAIN LIMITATIONS

Retrospective nature of the study, no control population for comparison and no follow-up after hospital discharge.

CONCLUSION

An extended umbilical portal incision is a successful alternative to extending a parainguinal incision for testis removal after laparoscopic castration.

Comparison of the diagnosis and management of unilaterally castrated and cryptorchid horses at a referral hospital: 60 cases (2002–2006)

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence of unilaterally castrated horses among horses admitted to the hospital for castration and to compare horses that underwent previous unilateral castration with horses that had cryptorchism.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

ANIMALS

16 unilaterally castrated horses and 44 cryptorchid horses.

PROCEDURES

Medical records of horses that were admitted to the veterinary medical teaching hospital for castration, including cryptorchid and unilaterally castrated horses, between January 2002 and December 2006 were reviewed. Medical records of unilaterally castrated horses and cryptorchid horses were examined for age, breed, history, diagnostic procedures, surgical technique of cryptorchidectomy, location of the retained testicle, and cost of surgery.

RESULTS

Of 160 horses admitted for castration, 16 (10%) had undergone previous unilateral castration and 44 (27.5%) had cryptorchidism. Unilaterally castrated horses were significantly older than cryptorchid horses. No significant difference was found in left versus right distribution of testicles. No significant difference was found in abdominal versus inguinal distribution of left-sided testicles. Unilaterally castrated horses had a significantly lower proportion of right inguinal testicles, compared with cryptorchid horses. The cost of diagnosis and management of unilaterally castrated horses was significantly greater than in cryptorchid horses.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Results indicated that the distribution of retained testicles is significantly different in unilaterally castrated horses, compared with cryptorchid horses, which may affect the selection of diagnostic and surgical approaches to unilaterally castrated horses.