title: Development of a technique for standing hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy in five horses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop an experimental standing hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy (HALS) technique, report the associated peri-operative complications and document the short-term surgical outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five healthy 300-470 kg horses that underwent standing HALS. Spleens of different weights (2.25-7.0 kg) were removed using this technique. The main complication during surgery was difficulty sectioning the gastrosplenic ligament. The postoperative complications included adhesions of the colon to the nephrosplenic ligament stump and incisional discharge in two horses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Standing HALS is a feasible experimental procedure for medium-sized horses, which avoids rib excision and general anaesthesia, but requires further development.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Gracia-Calvo
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martín-Cuervo
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7127-6763
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vieítez
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Argüelles
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Durán
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ezquerra
mesh_terms: D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D058733:Hand-Assisted Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D006736:Horses / Q000601:surgery*; D008026:Ligation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D013154:Spleen / Q000601:surgery; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: hand-assisted techniques; horses; laparoscopic surgery; splenectomy