Ovariohysterectomy in the Mare

Bilateral ovariectomy as a treatment for chronic pyometra in four horses

“…Ovariohysterectomy has been performed as an open or laparoscopic-assisted approach that all require general anaesthesia to complete the procedure (Woodford et al 2014), thus making it a more invasive and technically demanding surgery than a bilateral ovariectomy under standing sedation, as a stand-alone treatment for pyometra. Although the survival rate can be good, ovariohysterectomy is associated with more major complications than ovariectomy alone, such as death, haemorrhage, (septic) peritonitis, uterine stump infection and post-operative pain (Santschi et al 1995;R€ otting et al 2003;Freeman et al 2007;Ragle 2012). Like ovariectomy, cervical wedge resection is a minimally invasive procedure, however, might be a less familiar procedure than ovariectomy.…”

“…Pyometra has been reported to be a relatively uncommon condition in the mare (Hughes et al 1979;Vaughan 1980;Pugh and Caudle 1987;Slone 1988;Santschi et al 1995;R€ otting et al 2003;Woodford et al 2014). Different techniques of ovariohysterectomy have been developed as a surgical treatment for cases that did not respond to medical management (Vaughan 1980;Slone 1988;Neil et al 1992;Santschi et al 1995;Ragle 2005Ragle , 2012Woodford et al 2014). The surgery is challenging and fraught with complications, such as peritonitis, infection, haemorrhage and colic (Santschi et al 1995;R€ otting et al 2003).…”