Laparoscopic Surgery - Keyhole Spays
Beech House Veterinary Centre is pleased to offer Keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery. This minimally invasive type of surgery provides many benefits to your pet. It is used most commonly for minimally invasive spaying in bitches.
In comparison to traditional spaying procedures, in which there is large abdominal wound, laparoscopic spaying results in two or three very small incisions (usually about 5mm in length). This results in much less post operative pain for your pet. Ovarian ligaments are identified, cauterized and cut without any pulling or tearing, again reducing post operative pain and leading to much quicker recovery time.
In the majority of keyhole spays only the ovaries are removed (ovariectomy). This technique will have the same outcome as a traditional spay, in which ovaries and uterus are removed, of stopping the bitch from coming into season. Uterine infection (pyometra) will still be prevented as hormonal influence of ovaries are required to lead to uterine infection.
What is Laparoscopy?
Lapraoscopy allows for surgery to be performed which is minimally invasive. A special camera in inserted into the abdomen through a very small incision. This allows for magnified views of internal organs on a monitor, allowing a very thorough examination of internal organs with minimal damage to them. Special instruments are then inserted through another small incision to manipulate or remove organs or take biopsies.
It is one of the most common ways to perform surgical procedures in humans leading to greatly reduced post operative pain and much quicker recoveries from surgery.
Advantages of Keyhole Spays
- Less painful than traditional spaying procedure
- Smaller incisions (less likely to need buster collars post operatively)
- Controlled tissue manipulation results in less pain and bleeding than tearing and pulling in traditional spays
- Excellent visualisation of abdominal organs with minimal tissue damage
- Reduces risks of adhesions and subsequent complications later in life.
Please contact a member of the team to get more information or to book a pre-neutering examination to discuss further with one of our vets.