Optimal Recovery, Minimum Disruption
North Downs Specialist Referrals has a wide range of equipment and expertise to deliver a large number of interventional procedures.
Laparoscopic (abdominal) and thoracoscopic (chest) surgery uses minimally invasive techniques. Small (usually 5mm diameter) instruments are guided within body cavities using specialised cameras and “scopes”. This provides a highly detailed, magnified and well-lit image allowing surgeons to see much more detail than during open surgery and without having to create large incisions.
“Keyhole” surgery reduces postoperative pain and allows for a quicker recovery and faster return to normal activity. This minimally invasive approach also provides a way to gather diagnostic information (e.g. organ biopsies) in geriatric patients many of whom would be considered by their owners to be too frail to undergo open surgery.
Smaller wounds may heal faster and are often associated with a lower risk of postoperative complication than the equivalent “open” surgery. Surgical times are often shorter with minimally invasive surgery. Shorter surgeries and quicker recoveries mean patients are often discharged sooner than following the comparable “open” surgery.
Interventional procedures cover a wide range of techniques
Techniques have evolved to treat diseases that were previously untreatable and/or to treat diseases in a much less invasive and risky way. This is a rapidly evolving area of surgery which North Downs Specialist Referrals is proud to be at the forefront of, offering a number of treatments that are not offered elsewhere in the UK including:
- Gonadectomy
- Ovariectomy
- Ovariohysterectomy (e.g. pyometra)
- Cryptorchid castration
- Ovarian remnant removal
- Tumour staging (including lymph node removal)
- Organ Biopsy
- Liver
- Pancreas
- Kidney
- Bowel
- Lung lobe
- Lymph node
- Gastropexy (prevents gastric torsion or “GDV” in higher risk breeds/individuals)
- Exploratory surgery
- Cholecystectomy (Gall Bladder removal)
- Adrenalectomy (select cases)
- Nephrectomy (kidney removal)
- Pericardiectomy
- Lung lobe biopsy and lung lobe resection
- Thoracic Duct Ligation (chylothorax)
- Mediastinal Mass Resection.
A right adrenalectomy performed using laparoscopy
This patient was diagnosed with a right sided adrenal pheochromocytoma. The adrenal gland was removed through one of the ports with the use of an alexis retractor. Traditional surgery for a right sided adrenalectomy, would involve a very large abdominal incision to perform the procedure, however using minimally invasive techniques the adrenalectomy was performed through four small incisions.
Case Advice or Arranging a Referral
If you are a veterinary professional and would like to discuss a case with one of our team, or require pre-referral advice about a patient, please call 01883 741449. Alternatively, to refer a case, please use the online referral form