Pinhole castration: a novel minimally invasive technique for in situ spermatic cord ligation.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a minimally invasive technique for castration of bull calves by in situ ligation of the spermatic cord.


METHODS
Experimental study.


METHODS
Male calves (n=6) aged, 48-56 days.


METHODS
Calves were blocked by weight and then separated into 3 groups: (1) bilateral spermatic cord ligation; (2) unilateral-1 spermatic cord ligated; and (3) control-neither spermatic cord ligated. After local anesthesia, in situ spermatic cord ligation was achieved by restraining the cord laterally within the scrotal sac and passing suture through a hypodermic needle inserted caudal to cranial at the neck of the scrotum and adjacent the medial margin of the restrained spermatic cord. The needle was removed leaving the suture in place and the spermatic cord repositioned medially, then the needle was reinserted through the original holes and the suture passed back through the needle, which was withdrawn. The suture ends were tied ligating the spermatic cord, leaving the knot subcutaneously. Calves were monitored and testes removed after 30 days for gross and histologic examination.


RESULTS
Castration was accomplished without postoperative complications. Spermatic cord ligation resulted in testis atrophy, and histologically, complete ischemic necrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
This novel minimally invasive technique is a simple, alternative method for castration of bull calves.


CONCLUSIONS
This method of castration is simply performed, without obvious skin wounds, and no postoperative care needed. The technique should be readily adaptable to other species.
Ponvijay
Kombairaju S
KS
Department of Animal Husbandry, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India. pinholecastration@yahoo.com
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000601:surgery*; D008026:Ligation / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000662:veterinary; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary; D011897:Random Allocation; D013085:Spermatic Cord / Q000601:surgery*; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing