Surgery of the Stallion
What's the most common surgical procedure performed by equine vets? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Castration
What's one of the most common causes for malpractice claims? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Castration - high complication rate (20-38%)
Blood supply to the scrotum - CORRECT ANSWER-External pudendal vessels
(abaxial - stay close to midline)
What 2 structures of the inguinal canal can you palpate? Which 1 can't you? -
CORRECT ANSWER-External palpation of external inguinal ring
Palpation per rectum of internal inguinal ring
Cannot palpate vaginal ring
Why is it not ideal that you can't palpate the vaginal ring? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Its size determines if herniation occurs
Complete cryporchidism - CORRECT ANSWER-Epididymis NOR testis
descended
Partial cryptorchidism - CORRECT ANSWER-Epididymis has partly descended
What type of cryptorchid results if the proper ligament is missing? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Partial
What type of cryptorchid results if the ligament of the tail of the epididymis or the
scrotal ligament is missing? - CORRECT ANSWER-Complete
What's the biggest risk factor for herniation? - CORRECT ANSWER-Scrotal
hernia as a foal
What are the scariest but least common complications of castration? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Hemorrhage and herniation
, **What MUST you do to prevent evisceration? - CORRECT ANSWER-**Ligature
the vaginal tunic
What castration instruments are essential? - CORRECT ANSWER-Gloves
Scalpel
Emasculators
How to use emasculators - CORRECT ANSWER-NUT-TO-NUT
Henderson emasculators - CORRECT ANSWER-Uses drill to spin testicle off -
must faster
Still closed technique
Surgical technique for castration - CORRECT ANSWER-Aseptic prep (not full
sterile prep)
Infiltrate local anesthetic into testicle
Grasp testicle and push firmly into scrotum towards midline
LONG incisions parallel to median raphe
Closed castration - CORRECT ANSWER-Incision TO, NOT THROUGH, vaginal
tunic
Advantages of closed castration - CORRECT ANSWER-Quick, easy
Keeps peritoneal cavity "closed"
Disadvantages of closed castration - CORRECT ANSWER-Less precise ligation
Larger tissue "wad" in crush
Open castration technique - CORRECT ANSWER-Separate testis and spermatic
cord from tunic
Emasculate spermatic cord (tunic and cremaster stripped off)
Advantages of open castration - CORRECT ANSWER-Direct access to
spermatic cord
Easy to grasp testicle
What's the most common surgical procedure performed by equine vets? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Castration
What's one of the most common causes for malpractice claims? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Castration - high complication rate (20-38%)
Blood supply to the scrotum - CORRECT ANSWER-External pudendal vessels
(abaxial - stay close to midline)
What 2 structures of the inguinal canal can you palpate? Which 1 can't you? -
CORRECT ANSWER-External palpation of external inguinal ring
Palpation per rectum of internal inguinal ring
Cannot palpate vaginal ring
Why is it not ideal that you can't palpate the vaginal ring? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Its size determines if herniation occurs
Complete cryporchidism - CORRECT ANSWER-Epididymis NOR testis
descended
Partial cryptorchidism - CORRECT ANSWER-Epididymis has partly descended
What type of cryptorchid results if the proper ligament is missing? - CORRECT
ANSWER-Partial
What type of cryptorchid results if the ligament of the tail of the epididymis or the
scrotal ligament is missing? - CORRECT ANSWER-Complete
What's the biggest risk factor for herniation? - CORRECT ANSWER-Scrotal
hernia as a foal
What are the scariest but least common complications of castration? -
CORRECT ANSWER-Hemorrhage and herniation
, **What MUST you do to prevent evisceration? - CORRECT ANSWER-**Ligature
the vaginal tunic
What castration instruments are essential? - CORRECT ANSWER-Gloves
Scalpel
Emasculators
How to use emasculators - CORRECT ANSWER-NUT-TO-NUT
Henderson emasculators - CORRECT ANSWER-Uses drill to spin testicle off -
must faster
Still closed technique
Surgical technique for castration - CORRECT ANSWER-Aseptic prep (not full
sterile prep)
Infiltrate local anesthetic into testicle
Grasp testicle and push firmly into scrotum towards midline
LONG incisions parallel to median raphe
Closed castration - CORRECT ANSWER-Incision TO, NOT THROUGH, vaginal
tunic
Advantages of closed castration - CORRECT ANSWER-Quick, easy
Keeps peritoneal cavity "closed"
Disadvantages of closed castration - CORRECT ANSWER-Less precise ligation
Larger tissue "wad" in crush
Open castration technique - CORRECT ANSWER-Separate testis and spermatic
cord from tunic
Emasculate spermatic cord (tunic and cremaster stripped off)
Advantages of open castration - CORRECT ANSWER-Direct access to
spermatic cord
Easy to grasp testicle
