Laparocystotomy for correction of vesical urolithiasis in equine: field surgery report

Abstract

Urolithiasis is a rare condition, but it is considered an emergency in the equine routine. The present work reports a correction case of vesical urolithiasis in equines by the surgical technique of parainguinal laparocystotomy in the field. A male horse, of mixed breed, with a history of dysuria and exacerbated hematuria after exercise was treated. After performing the clinical examination, the diagnostic suspicion of bladder urolithiasis was confirmed through transrectal ultrasonography and the surgical treatment was indicated. Given the impossibility of performing the procedure in the operating room, it was decided to operate the animal in field conditions. For access to the abdominal cavity, parainguinal laparotomy was chosen. The bladder was located and emptied by puncture. A cystotomy was performed to remove the urolith, followed by washing the bladder with saline solution to remove possible debris. The cistorrhaphy was performed in two planes of Schmieden-Cushing suture, with synthetic absorbable suture, followed by laparorrhaphy. The postoperative period consisted of daily dressings of the surgical wound, showers, and administration of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. It is concluded that the ultrasound examination was essential for the correct diagnosis and that the choice of the surgical technique of parainguinal laparocystotomy performed in the field offers satisfactory results for the treatment of horses with bladder urolithiasis.