01/10/2025
Did you know we can do Laparoscopic (or keyhole) spays?
This photo shows our Head Vet Alex performing the surgery whilst our RVN Matt is monitoring the patient under anaesthetic.
Laparoscopy, commonly known as keyhole surgery, is the practice of operating through ports in the body wall rather than directly through an incision. Keyhole surgery is considered minimally invasive and is commonplace for many procedures.
During keyhole surgery sterile carbon dioxide gas is used to inflate the abdomen, lifting the body wall away from the organs. A camera is inserted through the first port, allowing us to visualise the organs clearly, and instruments are inserted through the other ports to perform the surgery.
What are the benefits of keyhole surgery?
The biggest difference between keyhole and open surgery is the very small wound sizes used for keyhole procedures. Most ports used are only 5-10mm in diameter and typically 2-3 ports are used depending on the procedure.
Additionally, the camera allows a very clear view of what is happening deep in the body, unlike some open surgeries where getting a clear view can be challenging. Inserting the instruments to the organs (rather than lifting organs to the incision) also causes less nerve stimulation.
Both these factors mean that keyhole surgery:
Is less painful than open surgery
Has faster recovery times
Studies show that dogs who had keyhole neutering procedures are both more active, and active sooner than those which had routine (open surgery) neutering procedures.
