Laparoscopic castration in a cryptorchid pygmy goat

Abstract

UNDESCENDED testes are rare in ruminants (Gilbert and Fubini 2004), although they have been reported in dwarf goats (Ezeasor and Singh 1987). Unlike in cattle and horses, where the left testicle is more commonly retained intra-abdominally, goats show a predilection for retaining the right testicle (Cox and others 1979, Gilbert andFubini 2004).For certain procedures, laparoscopy offers significant advantages over open surgery. Incisions are smaller, resulting in reduced postoperative pain; there is a decreased risk of incision-related complications, intraoperative visualisation is improved, manipulation of viscera is reduced and convalescence is shorter (Walmsley 1999, Klohnen 2002. This short communication reports laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy in a pygmy goat.A four-month-old, entire male pygmy goat kid weighing 11·4 kg was presented for castration. The left testicle was present in the scrotum, but the right testicle could not be palpated in the scrotum or inguinal region. The goat was sedated with 0·01 mg/kg intravenous xylazine (Rompun 2%; Bayer) to allow jugular venous catheterisation, and 10 mg/kg procaine penicillin (Norocillin; Norbrook) and 2·2 mg/kg flunixin meglumine (Flunixin; Norbrook) were administered intramuscularly.Anaesthesia was induced with 5 mg/kg ketamine (Narketan 10; Vetoquinol) and 0·1 mg/kg intravenous diazepam (Diazepam Injection; Hameln Pharmaceuticals). The kid was held in sternal recumbency and 20 mg lignocaine hydrochloride (Lignol; Arnolds) was applied topically to the larynx. Using a long-bladed laryngoscope, a 4 mm cuffed endotracheal tube was inserted. Anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane (Isoba; Schering-Plough) in 100 per cent oxygen via a parallel Lack breathing system. Hartmann's solution (Isolec Combi; Arnolds) was administered intravenously at 10 ml/kg per hour. Peripheral oxygen saturation was monitored using a pulse oximeter (Ox 4404; Heska). Anaesthesia was uneventful apart from periods of tachypnoea associated with maximal abdominal distension after insufflation.The kid was placed in dorsal recumbency at 20 degrees in the Trendelenburg position. A 2 cm longitudinal incision was made through the skin and subcutis along the ventral midline at the umbilicus. A blunt teat cannula was inserted through the umbilicus to achieve pneumo peritoneum, and the abdominal cavity was insufflated to effect with a regulated CO 2 canister. The teat cannula was removed and a 12 mm laparoscopic cannula with guarded-blade trocar (Versaport Plus V2; Covidien Autosuture) was inserted. The trocar was replaced with a 58 cm long, 10 mm wide, 30 degree-angled laparoscope (Stortz).The omental sling covered much of the intestines, but the inguinal rings were visible either side of the midline at the caudal ventral abdomen. The intra-abdominal right testicle was located easily, adjacent to the inguinal ring at the caudal extent of the omental sling. Initially, only the shiny white head of the epididymis was visible. Two instrument portals were placed under visual control 5 cm to the left and ri...

Successful laparoscope-assisted orchiectomy in three cryptorchid sheep

“…Laparoscope assisted embryo transfer has been conducted under lumbosacral epidural anaesthesia using lignocaine hydrochloride and ropivacaine hydrochloride in goats ( Khajuria et al., 2014b , Khajuria et al., 2014a ). Although laparoscopic orchiectomy has been performed in a goat using xylazine-ketamine for induction and isoflurane for maintenance ( Rutherford, 2009 ) but general anaesthesia is not only expensive but also accompanied by several complications particularly in food animals ( Clarke et al., 2014 ).…”

“…The needle has specifically been designed to prevent inadvertent puncture of the viscera prior to abdominal insufflation for laparoscopy ( Hendrickson, 2012 ). A blunt teat cannula and carbon dioxide have alternatively been used ( Rutherford, 2009 ). Insufflation of the abdominal cavity improves visualization and facilitates visceral manipulations ( Bouré, 2005 ; Latimer et al., 2003 ).…”

“…The laparoscope (5.0 mm, 0°) employed routinely for assisted reproductive technologies in sheep and goats ( Fazili et al., 2015 ; Khajuria et al., 2014a , b) was satisfactorily used in these animals. Larger (12.0 mm, 35°) laparoscopes were used in a kid ( Rutherford, 2009 ) and cattle (10.0 mm, 0°) for this purpose ( Kaneko et al., 2015 ). Although 6.0 mm diameter laparoscope is sufficient for use in small ruminants but those with larger diameters may also not pose any problem ( Tibary, 2004 ).…”

“…The laparoscope-assisted cryptorchiectomy technique followed in our sheep involved careful externalization of the abdominal testicles before their detachment. The total laparoscopic procedures with the advantage of harmless manipulations, sectioning and morcellation of the resected structures generally require comparatively small abdominal incision or port enlargement ( Rutherford, 2009 ; Zhang et al., 2009 ).…”

“…In farm animal practice, this minimally invasive surgical modality is now gaining popularity. As per the available literature, laparoscopy was used for orchiectomy in one cryptorchid Pygmy goat ( Rutherford, 2009 ) but has till date not been tried in sheep. In this case report the successful laparoscope-assisted cryptorchidectomy in three rams is therefore described.…”