Removal of equine cryptorchid testes through an enlarged umbilical portal in dorsally recumbent horses after intra‐abdominal laparoscopic castration

Background Laparoscopic removal of cryptorchid testes has been routinely reported through enlarged parainguinal incisions in dorsally recumbent horses. Outcomes following removal through an extended umbilical incision have not been previously reported. Objective To describe the surgical technique of removing cryptorchid testes in dorsally recumbent horses through an enlarged umbilical portal after laparoscopic intra‐abdominal castration. Study design Retrospective case series. Methods Medical records were reviewed for horses that underwent laparoscopic removal of unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid testes from January 2006 to December 2016. Horses were placed under general anaesthesia, positioned in dorsal recumbency and then tilted into Trendelenburg position. Cryptorchid testes were castrated by ligating loop application and/or electrosurgery. The umbilical portal incision was extended along the linea alba for testes removal. All descended testes were removed by routine closed castration with the scrotal incision left to heal by second intention. Perianaesthetic laboratory values, surgical procedure descriptions, surgery and anaesthesia times, and in‐hospital perioperative complications were recorded. Results A total of 79 horses, aged 1‐14 years, with unilateral or bilateral cryptorchidism were included: 90 cryptorchid testes were successfully removed through an enlarged umbilical portal incision. Sixty‐eight horses were unilaterally cryptorchid and 11 were bilaterally cryptorchid. Two horses had minor post‐operative complications related to the extended umbilical portal incision. Main limitations Retrospective nature of the study, no control population for comparison and no follow‐up after hospital discharge. Conclusion An extended umbilical portal incision is a successful alternative to extending a parainguinal incision for testis removal after laparoscopic castration.