Laparoscopy & Thoracoscopy

Laparoscopy is “keyhole” surgery where small 1cm incisions are used to gain access to the abdomen for routine procedures or biopsies, using a camera and long handled narrow instruments. The advantage is that the recovery time is much quicker and the risks associated with the abdominal wound of a conventional surgery are eliminated. Thoracoscopy is when the same minimally-invasive techniques are used to perform surgery in the thorax (the chest cavity). These techniques are most often used to biopsy organs (e.g. liver, pancreas), facilitate gastropexy, perform pericardectomy and neuter bitches.

Mediastinal lymph node biopsy 

Laparoscopic Ovariectomy

Neutering female dogs is usually carried out via an incision in the middle of the underside of the abdomen. The length of this incision varies according to the weight and size of the dog  and the uterus is removed as well as the ovaries. When neutering is done by keyhole surgery, very small incisions are made and only the ovaries are removed.

Recovery is very rapid and even very large dogs can go home the same day. They are usually given a few days of anti-inflammatory drugs, but generally are very comfortable. They do not require exercise restriction or rest in the post operative period and are much less likely to lick or scratch at their stitches.

There are three 1cm incisions in the midline, each with a single stitch in, which are removed 10-14 days after the surgery.

The procedure takes about 20-40 minutes in theatre, with the anaesthetic being slightly longer to clip and prepare the abdomen for sterile surgery (the same as would be done for a conventional spey)

The procedure is best suited to younger dogs  -it may not be suitable for dogs with evidence of ageing changes or disease in the uterus. In these cases, we can look at the uterus using the camera, to see if ovariectomy is appropriate, before making any larger incisions. Other procedures can also be done at the same time as the laparoscopy including repair of umbilical hernias, and laparoscopic assisted gastropexy (in giant/large breed dogs, where the stomach is anchored so that it cannot twist at a later date)

Please email the soft tissue surgery service for more details regarding costs and for bookings.

Laparoscopic ovariectomy