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Surgery is a scary thought for anyone, but advances in human medicine are helping to make patients more comfortable and shortening stays in the hospital. Even our pets are now benefiting from these improvements!
Laparoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive type of surgery, was first performed on a dog back in 1902! In the intervening years, human surgeons have perfected techniques to removal gall bladders, relieve endometriosis, and even help individuals with morbid obesity. Veterinary surgeons are now adapting many of these techniques.
A laparoscope consists of a telescoping rod and lens system connected to a video camera and light source. The surgeon inserts the laparoscope into the patient through a tiny (less than 1 inch long) incision.
The biggest benefit to laparoscopic surgery is the reduced need for a large incision in the abdomen. In the case of human gall bladder removal, traditional surgeries create an incision about 8 inches long. Now, laparoscopes use 4 incisions, all less than ½ inch, to remove the gall bladder. Smaller incisions mean shorter recovery time, shorter hospital stays, and, above all, less pain.
Veterinarians are seeing these benefits and are anxious to export them to our pets. Laparoscopic surgery is becoming a viable alternative for pet owners wanting to provide a human-level of surgical care for their pets. Surgeries that are considered “routine” by pet owners and veterinarians, such as spaying a female dog or cat, are now considered good candidates for the laparoscope.
Veterinarians are not only using this revolutionary new tool for spays, but as an aid to help diagnose disease. Surgeons are able to biopsy internal organs and the procedure often requires no more than sedation and a local anesthetic. Previous protocols for biopsies demand general anesthetic and a prolonged recovery time. With some laparoscopic biopsies, the patient is often ready to go home in less than 2 hours!
And, this high tech gadget can actually save lives too! Many large breeds of dogs are prone to a twisting of the stomach commonly known as “bloat”. The occurrence of this painful emergency condition can be prevented by tacking the right side of the stomach to the body wall, preventing rotation. Prior to laparoscopes, veterinarians would perform exploratory surgery, generating an incision in excess of 6 or 8 inches. The modern laparoscope can accomplish this potentially life-saving procedure through an incision about 1 inch long.
Although this technology is truly leading edge, don’t expect it to show up in all veterinary offices immediately. For some veterinarians, the initial set up cost of the equipment and time to learn the techniques may not be affordable. If you are planning a surgery for your pet, ask your veterinarian about the potential for laparoscopic assisted surgery in your area.
Dr. Sara Lash with Healthy Pets Mobile Vet, www.drsaralash.com or 919-329-7387(PETS)
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