Left- and right-sided laparoscopic-assisted nephrectomy in standing horses with unilateral renal disease.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a technique for, and outcome after, left- or right-sided laparoscopic-assisted nephrectomy in standing horses with unilateral renal disease.


METHODS
Clinical report.


METHODS
Horses (n=3) with unilateral renal disease.


METHODS
Horses were sedated with detomidine (0.01 mg/kg intravenously [IV]) and levomethadone (0.05 mg/kg IV). Paravertebral anesthesia and infiltration-anesthesia with 2% lidocaine were used to create a surgical field incorporating the 17th intercostal space and paralumbar fossa. Two separate, ipsilateral portals and a mini-laparotomy were used. The perirenal peritoneum was horizontally incised (10-15 cm) using endoscissors and the incision digitally enlarged for manual dissection of the perirenal fat and kidney mobilization. The renal vessels and ureter were individually dissected, ligated, and transected under laparoscopic observation and the kidney removed. The perirenal and laparotomy peritoneal defects were not closed; and the laparotomy was closed in a multilayered fashion. The transverse abdominal muscle was apposed in a continuous pattern using 1 polyglactin 910, the subcutaneous tissue (simple continuous pattern) and skin (simple interrupted pattern) with 2-0 polyglactin 910.


RESULTS
Left (2) and right (1) sided laparoscopic-assisted nephrectomy (1 nephrolithiasis, 2 hydronephrosis) was performed successfully. Sedation and local anesthesia was adequate for intraoperative immobilization and analgesia. No intraoperative complications occurred. Incisional seroma formation and fever occurred on days 3 and 4 in 1 horse and resolved with medical management.


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic-assisted nephrectomy can be used for removal of the left or right kidney in standing horses with unilateral kidney disease.


CONCLUSIONS
To avoid risks associated with general anesthesia and to reduce surgical trauma, laparoscopic-assisted nephrectomy can be performed in the standing sedated horse using a 2 portal technique and a mini-laparotomy.
Veterinary Clinic Starnberg and The Department of Equine Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany. MRoecken@t-online.de
Michael
M
Röcken
Gesine
G
Mosel
Christiane
C
Stehle
Julia
J
Rass
Lutz F
LF
Litzke
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000662:veterinary; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000662:veterinary; D011187:Posture; D016896:Treatment Outcome