Guinea Pig Laparoscopic Ovariectomy Using Two Portal Sites: 3-mm and 5-mm

A 0.8-kg, 2-year-old, sexually intact female rescue guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) was brought to a private veterinary center for spaying. Spaying is a common procedure in small animals and is also becoming common in exotic animals. Indications for spaying include prevention of fertile mating and prevention of reproductive diseases such as ovarian tumors, pyometra, endometrial hyperplasia, among others. The risk of postoperative infection in this species is high (33%) [1] compared to other small animals like dogs and cats (1-3%) [2]. Laparoscopic or “minimal invasion” surgery is well known for increasing visualization of surgeons, reducing postoperative pain, reducing surgical site infection, and shorter recovery times. The present report was conducted to examine the feasibility and safety of a laparoscopic procedure through two portals in order to establish it as a routine surgery for guinea pigs.

All procedures were performed in accordance with the Spanish Government for Animal Care guidelines (RD 53/2013).

The animal was classified as ASA class I (American Society of Anesthesiologists). It was premedicated [3] with medetomidine (Doctor; Norvet, Spain), 0.3 mg/kg Body Weight (BW), IM; butorphanol (Torbugesic 1%; Zoetis, Spain), 1 mg/kg BW, IM and alfaxan (Alfaxan 10mg/ml; Jurox; Crawley; UK) 1 mg/kg BW, IM. Marbofloxacin (Marbocyl 10%; Vetoquino; Spain), 4 mg/kg BW, SC and meloxicam (Metacam; Boehringer Ingelheim, Barcelona, Spain) 0.5 mg/kg BW, 30 minutes before surgery. The patient was maintained under general anesthesia using isofluorane (Isofluorano DCI 100%, Inibsa, Spain) in 100% oxygen (Figures 1-2).

 

Figure 1: The animal during clinical examination.

 

Figure 2: Surgeon performing the procedure.

 

Following induction, the patient was positioned in dorsal recumbency and reverse Trendelenburg position; the ventral abdomen was clipped and aseptically prepared with chlorhexidine 2% cranially from the xiphoid to the pubis. Abdominal access was obtained using Hasson technique, a 5mm incision was made - 1cm between the umbilicus and the pubis, through the skin and subcutaneous tissue down to the linea alba, where a 5-mm trocar was inserted inside the abdomen. Then pneumoperitoneum was established by connecting the trocar to the high flow CO₂ (carbon dioxide) insufflators until the pressure of 5 mm Hg [4] was achieved. A 5-mm, 30-degree rigid laparoscope connected to the camera and light source was inserted into the abdomen and a 360 degree scan was performed to check all organs. A second 3mm incision was made midway cranial to the umbilicus and a 3-mm portal was inserted under direct visualization to prevent injury to the abdominal organs. The patient was then tilted 30 degrees either to the left and right lateral recumbency to perform the right or left OVE, respectively. With the rigid laparoscope the left and right kidney were identified and following this, the horns were visualized. The proper ligament was grasped with the 3-mm grasping forceps and elevated to the ventral part of abdomen. Then a 3/8 circle curved cutting needle was used passing through the body wall to suture with 2/0 poliglycolic acid (Monosyn, Braun) percutaneously the ovary. Following this, the 2.7 mm 30-degree rigid telescope was introduced via the cranial 3-mm portal and the ovarian pedicle, proper ligament and mesovarium were cauterized and cut using a 5-mm bipolar vessel sealing device (Ligasure, Valleylab, Tyco Healthcare UK). The same procedure was repeated with the contralateral ovary. When both ovaries were cut, the grasping forceps holding the resected ovary was brought directly towards the camera and simultaneously pulled backwards until the forceps entered inside the cannula and was observed from the outside. Finally, the trocar was pulled out while the ovary was removed from the abdomen and both incisions were closed using intradermic absorbable 4/0 monofilament suture (Figure 3).

 

Figure 3: The sequence of steps during the procedure.

Total surgical time from the access to the removal of the second ovary and closure of incisions was 24 minutes. The guinea pig woke up 10 minutes after the surgery was finished and immediately food was offered to avoid hypoglycemia. The patient was maintained in the hospital and kept warm until full recovery. Six hours later, it was taken home. The wound was cleaned every day with saline solution 0.9% and no infection was seen. Post-surgery medication was meloxicam (Metacam; Boehringer Ingelheim, Barcelona, Spain) 0.5 mg/kg BW and enrofloxacino (Baytril 25 mg/ml, Bayer Hispania, Barcelona) 5 mg/kg BW bid 5 days. The owner reported the animal was active, eating and drinking that same night and the following days (Figures 4-6).

Figure 4: Image of the ovaries post-surgery.

 

Figure 5: Image showing both incisions post-surgery.

 

Figure 6: The animal recovering after surgery.