Keyhole Surgery

Keyhole or laparoscopic surgery is a surgical technique relatively new to veterinary surgery. It is minimally invasive involving 2-3 much smaller surgical wounds than the single large incision used in traditional techniques.

Cameras and specialised instruments allow procedures like spaying (Ovariohysterectomy) Crytorchid surgery (removal of retained testicles) and biopsies to be performed with reduced pain, quicker recovery and fewer post operative complications.

The most common laparoscopic procedure is a spay. With traditional surgery a midline incision is made in the abdomen (the size varies depending on the size of dog and type of procedure but can be anything from 2-30cm. The ovaries and uterus are clamped off, sutures tie off the blood vessels to prevent bleeding, and the organ is removed. With laparoscopic surgery the spay is performed through 2-3 small incisions and electrocautery is used to seal the blood vessels.

The minimally invasive smaller incisions cause less tissue trauma than the traditional midline abdominal wound. The reduced tissue trauma means the procedures are associated with less pain and faster recovery meaning dogs can get back to a normal exercise routine more rapidly. The smaller incisions reduce the risk of post operative infection. The camera used for the procedure enhance the visualisation of the abdominal cavity.

Another common laparoscopic procedure is Gastropexy (a procedure to anchor the stomach to the inside of the abdominal wall in dogs that have gastric bloat) and biopsies of abdominal organs (e.g. if cancer is suspected).

Keyhole surgery is becoming more common, but it is not offered at many 1st opinion practices . It requires specialised equipment and training because of this keyhole surgery is a lot more expensive than traditional methods. There is always the potential for the need to convert to open surgery if there is a complication such as haemorrhaging as it may be difficult to deal with this without being able to fully visualise the area.

Laparoscopic surgery can’t be used if there are signs of infection or cancer. It is also challenging in small dogs due to the size of the abdomen, so it is often of no benefit for them especially as a midline incision is very likely to be small anyway. Inflammation, infection, bleeding and tummy upsets are all complications of both keyhole and traditional surgeries. Whilst laparoscopic surgery is becoming more common it does have limitations and there is no doubt it is of most benefit to large and giant breeds.