Selected Reproductive Surgery of the Broodmare

CHAPTER 24Selected Reproductive Surgery of the Broodmare



The notes herein are a compilation of some of the techniques that are used at the Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital and are not intended as an exhaustive, heavily referenced treatise of all available techniques. No attempt has been made to discuss all reproductive techniques or conditions requiring intervention. The procedures herein work very well for us. However, readers should be aware that different methods are employed successfully by others. We would be grateful to those who have different ideas and experiences if they would communicate them by e-mailing Dr. McKinnon at aom@iinet.net.au. Many of the techniques presented are modifications of existing techniques, newer techniques, and/or areas we feel warrant special attention. We have assumed that readers are at least familiar with both relevant anatomy and standard documented surgical correction of reproductive-related problems.


Topics discussed have been dictated by our experience and preference for an individual or alternate technique when many techniques exist. A busy equine practitioner can expect to encounter most of these problems in any individual breeding season. Most of the techniques relate to restoring or improving fertility, and most are elective and require experience to make the correct diagnosis and therapeutic approach.




SEDATION AND ANESTHESIA


Most procedures are performed with the mare standing, using local infiltration or epidural anesthesia. Apart from minor procedures (Caslick’s vulvoplasty), we prefer to have mares tranquilized and restrained in appropriate stocks such as facilities for cross tying and/or tail elevation. Tranquilization and analgesia are provided most commonly with intravenous (IV) detomidine (mg) and butorphanol (mg). Longer surgeries may require the repeated IV use of low doses of xylazine (100 mg). Cost and length of tranquilization/analgesia are important considerations. Some have other physiological effects, such as increased urinary output with xylazine. Detomidine provides excellent tranquilization and analgesia; however, effects are often still apparent hours after administration. Epidural anesthesia may be extremely effective; however, variation in response and individual susceptibility and time before appropriate anesthesia is obtained occasionally make it less rewarding than tranquilization and local infiltration for some of the procedures discussed here. Techniques for epidural anesthesia have been discussed elsewhere.1 One word of warning: epidural administration of more than 7 to 9 ml of 2% local anesthetic to a 500 kg mare can be associated with loss of motor control to the hind limbs and recumbency. These mares are difficult to manage and may require support for 2 to 4 hours.


Epidural injection of xylazine for perineal analgesia has been reported to be very efficacious. A dose of 0.17 mg/kg (around 75-100 mg in an average horse) was as effective as local anesthetic agents for analgesia and had nil or minimal effects on depression of motor nerves in the lumbosacral intumescence. Another advantage was demarcation of the area of analgesia with an area of sweating (dermatome) that was consistent both temporally and topographically.2 In our experience the perineal dermatome is not always obvious. In addition it takes around 35 to 40 minutes for good analgesia to be recognized associated with xylazine epidural anesthesia. Currently we prefer to use a combination of xylazine (70 mg) and lidocaine (60 mg [3 ml]), q.s. saline to 10 ml for most horses. With this regime, loss of tail tone has occurred associated with a successful “block” within 5 to 10 minutes and surgery generally has begun by approximately 30 to 45 minutes post administration. Our most common method of epidural anesthesia is to begin with the infusion of 1 ml of local anesthetic through a 25 gauge needle subcutaneously above the first moveable coccygeal/sacral joint (usually C1 and C2). Next, a 38-mm, 18-gauge needle (bevel forward and introduced at 45 degrees) that has a small amount of fluid left to create a meniscus on the needle hub is introduced through the local bleb. Recognition of the fluid being aspirated into the needle infers correct placement, and the appropriate amount of solution is injected slowly into the epidural space whilst continually evaluating the ease of administration to ensure that the needle tip is still in place.


Occasionally epidural anesthesia is difficult to achieve (infusion outside the spinal cord before proper epidural placement, hemorrhage through the needle and tissues, anatomic abnormalities and fat horses). Provided local anesthesia can be obtained by infiltration without adverse affects on wound healing, we prefer to perform surgery without the epidural and provide incremental IV administration of xylazine (i.e., 50-100 mg to already tranquilized patients when or if minor surgical discomfort is recognized).


In some instances we have been able to identify correct epidural placement by injecting the anesthetic slowly while moving the needle until there is an obvious change in the amount of pressure needed to advance the solution. These situations are usually associated with a mare with abnormal anatomy (i.e., after a traumatic foaling) and lack of movement of fluid in the needle hub.



VESTIBULE AND VULVAL LIPS



Pneumovagina


There are 3 barriers to aspiration of air and contaminants into the cranial reproductive tract.





It would appear that the vestibular barrier is more important than previously recognized; however, when any of these protective barriers are rendered incompetent, contamination and concomitant vaginitis, cervicitis, and metritis may result. Pneumovagina can result from faulty perineal conformation, previous injury to perineal tissues, or effects of poor body condition. Pneumovagina can also be iatrogenic (i.e., reproductive examination or breeding).


Recognition of potential candidates for pneumovagina are made from anatomical observations3 (i.e., predisposition is associated with a low pelvis, tilted vaginal lips, and a sunken anus) (Figure 24-1). If possible, mares should be examined during estrus when the reproductive tract is relaxed. Parting the vulval lips results in loss of integrity of the vestibular sphincter and an audible ingress of air to the cranial vagina. Recognition of foamy exudates from the vaginal lips may often be noted during rectal examination. In addition, ultrasonography has been used to visualize air in the uterus.4 If in doubt after clinical evaluation regarding a mare’s potential to aspirate air into the vagina, we recommend treating by surgery all mares that have been barren one or more breeding seasons, unless other causes of reduced fertility are obvious (i.e., stallion, farm management).




Caslick’s Vulvoplasty


Caslick’s vulvoplasty was first described by Dr. E. A. Caslick in 1937 and involves apposition of the vulval lips.5 Local anesthesia of vulval lips, removal of a thin portion of mucosa from the mucocutaneous junction, and apposition of the cut edges is simple, quick, and effective. Length of apposition is determined by height of pelvis relative to vulval lips. In general the join should continue to a point at least 3 to 4 cm below level of the pelvis, and approximately 3 cm should be left unopposed to allow for urination. If this is not possible, other surgical techniques (see below) may be necessary.



Points for consideration







Postoperative treatment





Variations.


Placement of a breeding stitch (usually doubled heavy gauge suture material or umbilical tape) will save unnecessary replacement and facilitate breeding and some manual vaginal manipulations for treatment (Figure 24-2, D). Care is needed with natural service to prevent penile trauma. We routinely treat or bred (AI) mares by passage of an infusion pipette into the vagina (past the vestibular sphincter) and use rectal manipulation of the pipette through the cervix similar to, but with a little more difficulty than cattle.



Episioplasty


This procedure is used in cases with more severe anatomic abnormalities where the Caslick vulvoplasty is ineffective and in mares with extensive or repeated second-degree perineal lacerations. Technically the previous surgery is an episioplasty as well; however, we use the term to describe the more extensive procedure previously referred to as (1) a deep Caslick, (2) the Gadd technique, or (3) a perineal body reconstruction.6 The procedure is designed to restore some degree of function to the perineal body. (Figure 24-3)



The surgery is performed on the standing mare with local anesthesia. Visualization is improved by good retraction and light sources. We prefer to perform all perineal surgeries using a centrally mounted beam as the light source.


A triangular portion of the dorsal caudal vestibule is removed from both sides. Apposition of the ventral borders of the incision and obliteration of the potential space above result in an increase in the size of the perineal body and a decreased propensity of the vestibule to create negative pressures.


The ventral borders are apposed with a continuous absorbable suture (2/0 vicryl) and dead space with single interrupted sutures. The mucocutaneous junction is closed similar to the Caslick procedure.



Points for consideration





Jun 4, 2016 | Posted by in EQUINE MEDICINE | Comments Off on Selected Reproductive Surgery of the Broodmare

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