VSR 421: Regional Veterinary Surgery (2+1)

ORCHIECTOMY IN COMPANION ANIMALS

• Orchiectomy is a common surgical procedure in companion animals performed for managemental, prophylactic and therapeutic purposes.
• Bilateral orchiectomy renders the male animal benign and easier to manage, prevents roaming especially in search of females in heat, reduces injuries due to fighting and prevents development of prostatic hyperplasia.
• Orchiectomy is also performed to treat prostatic diseases, perineal hernia and irreparable injuries/neoplasms affecting the testis.
• In dogs, the surgery is usually performed by the open method by a prescrotal approach under general anaesthesia. After controlling the animal on dorsal recumbency and preparation of the prescrotal and scrotal skin, a midline incision is placed on the prescrotal skin after tensing one of the testicles under the skin.
• The incision extends through the skin, subcutaneous tissue and the tunica vaginalis. The testis is squeezed out and the attachment of the epididymus to the tunica vaginalis is separated bluntly by traction or transected. The vascular and the avascular bundles of the spermatic cord are separated.
• The vascular bundle is ligated using No. 1-0 catgut and transfixed. The ends of the suture material may be used for ligating the avascular bundle also. The spermatic cord is transected distal to the ligation and the stump returned into the tunica vaginalis. The other testicle may be removed through the same skin incision by incising the scrotal septum after tensing the testicle against it.
• The procedure is repeated to remove the second testicle. Subcutaneous sutures may or may not be placed using No. 4-0 absorbable suture material and the skin incision can be closed using No. 3-0 or 4-0 nylon.
• In cats, orchiectomy is performed by placing separate longitudinal incisions on the scrotal skin over each testicle.
• The spermatic vessels may be ligated as in the dog or the vascular and avascular components of the spermatic cord may be used for arresting bleeding by applying two square knots with them. The scrotal skin incision may be left without suturing.