Use of an inguinal approach adapted from equine surgery for cryptorchidectomy in dogs and cats: 26 cases (1999-2010)

Abstract

Objective-To determine whether a surgical technique used in cryptorchid horses can beused successfully to remove testicles retained in the inguinal region or abdominal cavity indogs and cats.Design-Retrospective case series.Animals-22 dogs and 4 cats with cryptorchidism.Procedures-In 1999 through 2010, 26 cryptorchid patients underwent surgery duringwhich an incision was made over the inguinal ring and the undescended testicle was locatedfor removal via identification of the vaginal process and the embryonic gubernaculum.Castration was performed once a testicle was located in the inguinal region or via removalof an intra-abdominally located testicle through the inguinal canal.Results-4 dogs and 1 cat were bilaterally cryptorchid. Testicles were retained in the abdominalcavity in 18 dogs and in the inguinal region in 4 dogs; in all 4 cats, undescendedtesticles were located in the inguinal region. Twenty-one dogs and 4 cats were castratedwithout breaching the abdominal cavity; in one of those dogs, the inguinal ring was enlargedto permit extraction of a tumorous testicle. In 1 dog, the inguinal ring was enlarged into aparamedian laparotomy and viscera were manipulated to exteriorize an intra-abdominallylocated testicle because the gubernaculum had ruptured. Major intraoperative or long-termcomplications did not occur.Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results suggested that as in horses, the surgicalapproach over the inguinal ring, wherein the vaginal process and the remnant of the gubernaculumare identified and used to locate an undescended testicle for removal, can be usedsuccessfully in dogs and cats.