title: Comparison of postoperative complications in healthy dogs undergoing open and closed orchidectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare closed and open orchidectomy in dogs and the associated complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomised controlled blinded prospective clinical study of 73 cases was undertaken involving the recording of all complications during and in the 10 days following orchidectomy of dogs fulfilling the standardised inclusion criteria. The active variable was the surgical technique of either open or closed orchidectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dogs undergoing open orchidectomy experienced significantly more complication events than the dogs undergoing closed orchidectomy [24 of 34 (70%) versus 18 of 39 (46%), P = 0 · 04]. Dogs undergoing open orchidectomy were statistically more likely to develop scrotal complications (21 of 34, 61%) compared with dogs undergoing closed orchidectomy (13 of 39, 33%; P = 0 · 02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Open orchidectomy is associated with a higher overall complication rate in the first 10 days after surgery than closed orchidectomy. Open orchidectomy is also associated with increased scrotal complications including swelling, bruising and pain compared with closed orchidectomy.
authors.affiliation: School of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol, Langford, BS40 5DU.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toscano
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Chanoit
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome