A Technique for Elective Splenectomy of Equidae Using a Transthoracic Approach

Abstract

Splenectomy was performed electively on 80 ponies, horses, and donkeys for preparation in collecting Babesia antigens. Access to the abdomen was by resection of the sixteenth left rib and incision of the diaphragm. The technique afforded good exposure of the splenic vessels and attachments. Closure was facilitated by preservation of the periosteum of the resected rib. Difficulty was encountered both in surgical technique and postoperative complications in obese animals. The transthoracic approach was found to be a useful technique for equine splenectomy.

Development of a technique for standing hand‐assisted laparoscopic splenectomy in five horses

“…We observed incision complications in two of the three horses that were not euthanased immediately after the surgery. Oedema, seroma formation, incisional drainage, infection and dehiscence have been described in previous reports of splenectomy . In one of the previous studies, 5 of 80 equidae subjected to a transthoracic approach splenectomy exhibited incision complications .…”

“…Adhesions in the dorsal aspect of the abdominal cavity have rarely been reported after different splenectomy techniques . For example, in one case, adhesions developed after splenectomy through a paracostal incision .…”

“…Oedema, seroma formation, incisional drainage, infection and dehiscence have been described in previous reports of splenectomy . In one of the previous studies, 5 of 80 equidae subjected to a transthoracic approach splenectomy exhibited incision complications . In general, flank approaches produce a larger dead space and can cause muscle necrosis, resulting in a higher complication rate compared with a midline approach .…”

“…There is a lack of consensus regarding the treatment of these conditions, but splenectomy has been described for the treatment of splenomegaly, neoplasia, trauma, autoimmune diseases, infarction or rupture . Splenectomy has also been performed for experimental purposes in the field of cardiovascular physiology and in blood protozoa research …”

Suspected case of hypersplenism as a cause of anaemia, thrombocytopenia and leucopenia in a Miniature Horse gelding

“…The first three criteria were documented in the horse presented here, and while splenectomy is possible in the horse, this procedure was not attempted as hypersplenism was not recognised ante mortem (Rigg et al . ).…”