Cryptorchid castration

Castration is the commonest surgical procedure carried out in equine practice. With fully descended testicles or even when a testicle is sitting just outside the external inguinal ring, castration is usually uncomplicated; either using an open technique in a standing patient, or by a closed or semi-closed technique under general anaesthesia. However, when a testicle is retained either within the inguinal canal or the abdomen, it may be necessary to adjust this procedure, or to use an alternative technique.

This presentation will briefly describe the diagnosis and two surgical approaches to castrating equine cryptorchids. The first method is using a minimally invasive inguinal approach under a general anaesthetic and the second is a laparoscopic approach in the standing patient under sedation and a local anaesthetic. Both methods are effective depending upon the location of the retained testicle and have benefits and disadvantages which will be presented and discussed.

There are basically three types of cryptorchid. A true abdominal cryptorchid where the testicle is located somewhere in the peritoneal cavity, an abdominal testicle with a long epididymis and an extra-abdominal epididymal tail, and a testicle within the inguinal canal. The location of the testicle, as assessed preoperatively, may encourage the surgeon to use one or other method. Such techniques may also be used when operating on terratomatous testicles.

Prof Tim Greet BVMS, MVM, Cert EO, DESTS, Dip ECVS, FRCVS

Tim Greet is a Glasgow graduate, who spent most of his career working as an equine surgeon in private practice in Newmarket, England. A diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons, he is a past president of BEVA, BVA, WEVA and ECVS. He has published widely and spoken at meetings around the world.