Advances in endoscopic surgery for small animal reproduction

Abstract

Although endoscopic surgery entered its "golden era" in the mid-1980s, it is still advancing at a tremendous pace. Novel surgical techniques and devices are continuously developed and applied, and new indications (and/or contraindications) for the use of endoscopic surgery are routinely reported in the literature and subjected to systematic assessments. Although endoscopic surgery (laparoscopy in particular) has already become established as the gold standard in human medicine, it has yet to be proven as a viable alternative to open surgery in the field of veterinary medicine. The advantages of minimally invasive surgery include better intra-operative visualization, reduced postoperative pain, reduced scar formation and increased postoperative mobility. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that the application of this will continue to expand. Small animal reproduction, a field within the broad discipline of veterinary medicine, has already recognized and begun to reap the benefits of endoscopic surgery. Herein, we retrospectively review the most recent successful novel applications of endoscopic surgery in the small animal reproduction system to provide small animal reproductive surgeons with important knowledge to help improve their own veterinarian medical practice.

Laparoscopy and thoracoscopy in small animal surgery: A 2020 survey of small animal diplomate and resident veterinary surgeons

“…This finding is consistent with prior survey‐based research, including studies from Jones et al published in 2017 and Enciso et al published in 2020, which identified that ovariectomy (OVE) and ovariohysterectomy (OHE) were the MIS procedures most performed by respondents 23,24 . This is likely a reflection of the earlier transition away from a traditional open celiotomy to MIS for OVE/OHE, and hence increased exposure to these procedures during training 25 . In addition, OVE and OHE require less specialized equipment and have a lower level of technical difficulty when compared with more advanced surgeries 8,26 .…”

“…23,24 This is likely a reflection of the earlier transition away from a traditional open celiotomy to MIS for OVE/OHE, and hence increased exposure to these procedures during training. 25 In addition, OVE and OHE require less specialized equipment and have a lower level of technical difficulty when compared with more advanced surgeries. 8,26 Surgeons and respondents alike had generally never performed most of the advanced laparoscopic and thoracoscopic procedures.…”