Laparoscopy has become a desirable alternative to many open abdominal surgical procedures in the horse. Laparoscopic procedures have also been recently developed for cattle, perhaps most significantly for the surgical correction of abomasal displacement.
Depending upon the indication, equine laparoscopy can be performed on patients while standing or in dorsal recumbency. CO2 insufflation is required to distend the abdomen in order to visualize organs. Indications for laparoscopy in the horse include visual examination, organ biopsy, acute or chronic colic, cryptorchidectomy, castration, inguinal hernia, ovariectomy, neoplasia and embryo transfer. KARL STORZ has developed specialized instrumentation for these procedures. The basic set is featured in our ENDOWORLD® VET 22.
Equine thoracoscopy is often performed in the standing horse with pleuropneumonia. In a single procedure, biopsies can be taken and adhesions divided. Thoracoscopy can also be performed in lateral recumbency. Another common indication for thoracoscopy in the horse is thoracic neoplasia. The telescopes and instruments used in thoracoscopy are the same as those used for laparoscopy.