Minimally Invasive Surgery. Don’t MIS This Option.
–by Timothy D. Hodge, DVM
Surgery hurts. I’m not going to lie. The pain is real. Dogs and cats feel pain just as people do, but don’t speak in a language that we can understand. However, they can “speak” to us in other ways that do let us know that surgery causes pain. As a vet- erinarian and pet parent, I see this with patients and have been the care-giver to my own pets when in pain. There are a myriad of disease and disorders
that cause pain. However, one that we cause is performing surgery. We have great drugs, medica- tions and treatment options to mitigate this pain. But, what if it was possible for the surgery itself to cause a lesser amount of pain? Well there is such an option. MIS – Minimally Invasive Surgery or
Why would you choose MIS laparo- scopic surgery for your pet? Minimize post-surgery pain, less scarring, and smaller incisions are the biggest ben- efits. These benefits allow for faster return to function with potentially less complications, especially in young, active dogs. For large breed dogs or those prone to GDV as noted above, laparoscopic spay can be paired with gastropexy (suturing the stomach to the inner abdominal cavity to prevent twisting) to maximize the benefits with a single anesthetic event.
Laparoscopic Surgery is the key. Laparoscopic surgery is most commonly used for abdominal procedures. These would include spay (ovariohys- terectomy), cryptorchidectomy (removal of a testicle remained in the abdomen and not in the scro- tum/groin), gastropexy (suturing the stomach to the inner body wall to prevent twisting (also known as GDV - gastric dilation volvulus), abdominal organ biop- sy, feeding tube placement, cysto- tomy (bladder surgery) and pyometra (infected uterus). In the above noted surgeries,
routinely, a single incision is used to enter the abdominal cavity.
This incision needs to be large enough to get at the necessary organs or tissue. In a laparoscopic surgery, several key-hole or port incisions are used. These are typically 1/4 of an inch to 1/2 inch (up to 1 inch depending on the scope and type of pro- cedure). A special instrument with a special camera
called a laparoscope is passed through the ports during the procedure. The abdomen may be inflated with air/gas to provide a better working space and to improve visualization. As the camera transmits images to high-resolution monitors, the surgeon watches and manipulates the instruments to perform the procedure just as in traditional sur-
76 THE NEW BARKER
gery, but with these much smaller incisions, there is less pain and discomfort. Many surgeons also use special instruments to help with sealing of blood vessels and suturing to make the process quicker and easier. This is all to the benefit of your pet. Since most of these procedures that are appli-
cable for laparoscopic surgery are commonplace and most veterinarians are well skilled in how to perform them, the leap to laparoscopic surgery it not that difficult. Specialized training, education and work-shops allow veterinarians to learn the functions and uses of the instruments and how to guide them to the areas of interest in the abdomen. The fee for this type of surgery tends to be a
little higher than if the surgery were performed in the traditional method. This is due to the addition- al training, cost and maintenance of the equip- ment, surgery time required, etc. But, the cost to benefits ratio leans greatly to the benefits.
U Y
The veterinary surgeon at Harbourside Animal Hospital and Cross Creek Animal Medical Center is a board certified surgeon and per- forms laparoscopic procedures such as those listed in the article by Dr. Hodge.
Dr. Timothy Hodge is the owner/practitioner of Harbourside Animal Hospital in the Channelside District of Tampa, 813.229.3322, and Cross Creek Animal Medical Centre in North Tampa, 813.994.6929.
Dr. Hodge has a special interest in internal medi- cine, dermatology and holistic care. He has com- pleted his training at the Chi Institute and provides acupuncture and herbal therapies in addition to traditional medical care.
www.TheNewBarker.com
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