Penile Amputation and Sheath Ablation in the Horse

Abstract

Partial amputation of the penis with pexy to the ventral abdomen and revision of the peripreputial skin can be used as an alternative to en bloc resection and penile retroversion for lesions involving the free part of the penis and the prepuce. It requires smaller incisions and results in less alteration to the normal appearance of the external genitalia than retroversion techniques, while still allowing the surgeon to remove extensive portions of the penis and extirpate the regional lymph nodes.

A modified surgical technique for penile amputation and preputial ablation in the horse

“…Seven cases (28%) were also observed to have signs of colic including reduced appetite and intermittent pawing for up to 48 h post operatively, with one requiring epidural analgesia, although it is not clear if these were horses concurrently haemorrhaging (Doles et al . ). On balance, it was considered that the complications encountered within this case series were of no greater detriment to the horse than the complications reported by the authors as described above.…”

“…Doles et al . () described a technique for lesions that could not be treated by amputation of the free penis, yet did not extensively involve the fibrous tunic, sheath or regional lymph nodes regions, resulting in amputation of 11–19 cm of penis. For more extensive pathology, two surgical techniques requiring complete penile ablation and urethrostomy have previously been described (Markel et al .…”

“…A technique for less severe cases, retaining the normal ventral position of the penis, has been described by Doles et al . ().…”

“…; Doles et al . ; Archer and Edwards ; van den Top et al . ), but also squamous papilloma (Archer and Edwards ), lymphosarcoma (Markel et al .…”

Surgical treatment of penile and preputial neoplasia in the horse

“…Potential complications following penile and preputial surgery include oedema of the penis or prepuce, inflammation, wound dehiscence, and haemorrhage at the urethrostomy site following urination. Long‐term complications include urine scalding of the hind limbs, urethral stricture and recurrence (Markel et al, 1988; Mair et al, 2000; Doles et al, 2001; Archer and Edwards, 2004). The incidence of recurrence in horses treated with a distal phallectomy is much greater than in those horses treated with an en‐bloc resection (Mair, 2004; Van Den Top et al, 2008b).…”