Taverham Veterinary Practice, Fir Covert Road, Taverham, Norwich NR8 6HT.

 

Laparascopic "keyhole" surgery and endoscopy at Taverham Vets

Most of us have seen TV images of surgeons operating on people using endoscopes linked up to video screen. The endoscopes make tiny entry wounds in the skin hence the term "keyhole" (or "minimally invasive") surgery. This technique has only now arrived in the veterinary world, and we are the first and only general practice in the whole region to offer it to our clients. Laparoscopy can be used to give us information about joints, the chest and abdomen, and ears and noses too! It is also now possible to spay bitches using "keyhole" techniques, which gives significant benefits over conventional surgery. (Please see our section on neutering for more information on spaying.)

LAPAROSCOPIC BITCH SPAY

Bitch spays are a routine procedure involving the removal of the ovaries and in certain cases the uterus. Taverham vets are one of the few practices in the country where this surgery can now be carried out using the latest key-hole techniques. Under general anaesthetic the abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide and then rigid endoscopes are passed through cannulae into the abdomen. A strong fibre-optic light source and magnification give a fanstastic view of the abdominal contents.The uterus is grabbed and fixed against the abdominal wall. Electric cautery is used to seal any blood vessels before sectioning of the uterus and ovarian pedicle. The ovary is then removed from the abdomen leaving two small "key-holes" to be sutured. Skin sutures are rarely needed. The amount of trauma to the tissues is minimal compared to the traditional approach and the reovery time is significantly better and although all of our patients go home with post-operative analgesia, the bitches spayed laparoscopically are noticeably more comfortable straight away. The tiny wounds also mean that the risks of post-operative infections caused by licking are much smaller.

CRYPTORCHID DOG CASTRATE (retained testicles)
Male dogs commonly have a testicle that does not descend into the scrotum. It is recommended that these testicles are removed to prevent the chance of testicular cancer. Previously this could involve extensive surgery but with the advent on veterinary key-hole surgery we are now able to locate the retained testicles through a tiny incision and remove them resulting in much less trauma to the patient and a quicker recovery time.

LAPAROSCOPIC EQUIPMENT
Taverham vets have invested in a lot of expensive cutting edge equipment in order to be able to offer laparoscopic surgery. Our vets have trained with specialists in order to obtain the new skills required to be able to perform procedures such as bitch spays, dog castrates and liver biopsies. The practice also have a range of flexible endoscopes to allow us to perform bronchoscopy (lungs), gastroscopy (stomach), rhinoscopy (nose) and cystoscopy (bladder) studies.

 

OTHER PROCEDURES

View of the ureteral opening in the bladder during a check for ectopic ureters.

A bladder mass found during cystoscopy - endoscopic grab biopsies were obtained.

Arthroscopic view inside a canine elbow and debridement of a loose flap of cartilage.
 

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