Frey Pet Hospital is proud to continue to be at the forefront of veterinary medicine by offering Laparoscopic Surgery. Though relatively new to the veterinary world, this type of surgery has been perfected over the past several years in human medicine. We understand that your pet is a valued member of your family therefore you deserve to know about a surgical procedure that has been proven to provide many advantages.
Click here to see our 5 minute informational video.
What is Laparoscopy?
Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive technique that allows us to view the internal structures of the abdomen. It involves the use of a laparoscopic camera (scope) inserted into the abdomen through just one small incision. This allows the veterinarian to view abdominal organs magnified on a LED monitor allowing for excellent visualization and fewer complications.
What are the benefits?
1) Reduced risk of infection by having a smaller incision, generally only 11 millimeters for a spay (less than ½ an inch)
2) Specialized scopes and video systems allow for increased precision and accuracy.
3) It has been researched and published that patients who have undergone laparoscopic surgery experienced 65% less pain and required smaller doses of anesthesia and post operative medications allowing for a faster recovery time.
4) Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus or “Bloat” is an all too common and extremely life threatening condition in any dog, though it most commonly seen in large (deep chested) breeds. This condition can be prevented through gastropexy, in which the outer lining of the stomach is tacked to the abdominal wall. Fixing the stomach in place prevents it from twisting. With the help of laparoscopy, this procedure can not only be done more efficiently but reduces the surgical site from approximately 7 inches down to 2 inches.
5) Many laparoscopes use 3 ports for surgical procedures, however Frey Pet Hospital utilizes a single port system. This allows for only one small incision opposed to having three to four for a spay.
What is the difference between a traditional spay and a laparoscopic spay?
With a traditional spay the ovarian ligament has to be blindly torn from the body wall: this causes pain and bruising. In contrast, a laparoscopic spay allows for visualization of the ovarian ligament permitting for controlled and gentle transection.
If you elect for your pet to have a laparoscopic spay she will have her belly shaved for preparation just like a traditional spay, plus an additional few extra inches of hair on each side of the abdomen to permit for the special technique of laparoscopy.
Other procedures that can be done with Laparoscopy:
-Abdominal exploratory
-Retained testicle removal
-Biopsies of internal organs
