Ligation in Castration of the Male Horse Using a TA‐30 Stapler

Abstract

Reasons for performing the studyMost complications in equine castrations result from insufficient ligation and contamination.ObjectivesStapling instruments reduce tissue handling, decrease surgical time, minimise contamination and provide secure visceral and vascular closure when used correctly. Using a stapler device might therefore increase ligation security and decrease contamination, and by this, reduce the complication rate seen in routine castration.Study designThe applicability and safety of a TA‐30 premium stapler as a ligation method in castration of the horse was tested in 15 horses under general anaesthesia in dorsal recumbency. Three horses were cryptorchids, one horse suffered a scirrous chord, and one horse suffered an infectious orchitis.MethodsThe vaginal process was approached inguinally. A noncutting emasculator was applied to compress the closed vaginal process. Consecutively a TA‐30 Premium stapler was applied to the compressed site. The distal part of the vaginal process was then removed, the stapler device was released and the incision was closed. The TA‐30 stapler accommodates 3 different staple cartridges of 30 mm width, accommodating 1.0 to 2.5 mm tissue thickness. The thickness of the vaginal process after compression was measured to be 1.0 mm (0.9–1.1 mm) in 10 fresh specimens. The 30‐V3 cartridges (triple row, 1 mm closed diameter) were chosen in 9 horses with smaller vaginal processes and the 30‐3.5 cartridges (double row 1.5 mm closed diameter) in 6 other horses with larger vaginal processes.ResultsAll horses recovered without intra‐ or post operative complications.ConclusionsA TA‐30 stapler is a safe ligation instrument in equine castrations. The use of titanium staples may reduce infection rate in routine castrations, even more in ligation of precontaminated vaginal processes in cases of post operative haemorrhage control after practice castrations or in closing the vaginal process after the removal of an infected testis or scirrous chord.Ethical animal research: Ethical committee oversight not currently required by this congress: procedures were performed as part of clinical investigations. Explicit owner informed consent for participation in this study was not stated. Sources of funding: None. Competing interests: None.