Modified Bühner suture technique in a guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) with penile prolapse

Abstract

Penile prolapse in guinea pigs may occur due to prolonged trauma, fur/debris accumulation, irritation and/or infection of the penis. Other species affected by penile prolapse include reptiles, horses, cats, dogs, degus and chinchillas. Treatment for penile prolapse usually involves treatment of the underlying cause, anti-inflammatories, analgesics and manual reduction. However, if initial manual reduction is unsuccessful and the penis continues to prolapse, surgical intervention may be considered to facilitate prolapse reduction. In horses, traumatic penile prolapse was successfully treated using a modified Bühner suture technique, historically used in reproductive prolapse in cattle. This case report describes the successful use of a modified Bühner suture technique to treat a four-year-old intact guinea pig boar with balanoposthitis-induced penile prolapse. Based on this experience, a modified Bühner suture technique in conjunction with appropriate medical management is a useful, minimally invasive technique for treatment of balanoposthitis-induced penile prolapse in guinea pigs.

Surgical treatment of chronic penile prolapse in Vietnamese pot‐bellied pigs: 5 cases (2016–2017)

“…Several techniques for treatment of penile prolapse have been described among different animal species. In horses and in a guinea pig case report, traumatic penile prolapse was treated by using a temporary modified Bühner suture technique . Purse‐string suture to prevent intermittent penile prolapse has also been described with success in a boar, although it was unsuccessful in pig 2 described in the present study when it had been attempted by the referring veterinarian.…”

“…Such treatment has not been previously reported in the literature. Multiple underlying causes of penile prolapse have been described in different species . In the current case series, 2 pigs were suspected to have developed a prolapsed penis after routine castration, and 3 pigs were considered idiopathic.…”

“…Purse‐string suture to prevent intermittent penile prolapse has also been described with success in a boar, although it was unsuccessful in pig 2 described in the present study when it had been attempted by the referring veterinarian. A purse‐string suture or modified Bühner technique can be considered when penile prolapse is intermittent or associated with penile trauma and inflammation, but it may not be effective with persistent penile prolapse due to ineffective preputial muscles or paralysis of the retractor penis muscle . A purse‐string suture was not attempted in any of the pigs in our case series because all pigs presented with persistent penile prolapse, and pigs 1, 3, and 4 had no evidence of penile inflammation or trauma, suggesting possible paralysis of the retractor penis muscle or ineffective preputial muscles as the etiology of the penile prolapse.…”

“…Generally, across all species, medical management of penile prolapse includes gentle massage, lubrication, and the use of hydroscopic agents to allow the return of the penis into the prepuce . A purse‐string suture can then be used to attempt to maintain the position . This technique is most successful when penile prolapse is intermittent or associated with penile trauma and inflammation, but it may not be effective with persistent penile prolapse due to paralysis of the retractor penis muscle .…”

“…A purse‐string suture can then be used to attempt to maintain the position . This technique is most successful when penile prolapse is intermittent or associated with penile trauma and inflammation, but it may not be effective with persistent penile prolapse due to paralysis of the retractor penis muscle . Surgical intervention should then be considered .…”