Canine Ovariohysterectomy

Question 1

Patient Prep

Answer 1

The patient is clipped along the ventral midline, extending from the xiphoid to the pubis. The clip should extend laterally 5-10cm either side of the incision. The skin is then prepared aseptically.

Question 2

Patient positioning

Answer 2

The patient is placed in dorsal recumbency with the forelimbs secured cranially and the hind limbs caudally using positioning aids. Support bags may be required for deep chested breeds to maintain the patient as straight as possible. Some surgeons may request that the patient is tilted so that the head is lower than the feet to encourage the uterus to drop down into the proposed incision site.

Question 3

Instruments and materials

Answer 3

A general surgical kit is required and for larger bitch speys a series of larger haemostats will be required. The Rochester Pean or Rochester Carmalts may be required. Often clinics will have these sterilised in a separate pack. Some clinics already have a spey hook incorporated into their surgical kit; if not an appropriate size spey hook will need to be selected. This is to exteriorise the uterine horns. A fenestrated drape appropriate to the patient’s size should also be selected.

Question 4

Surgical Procedure

Answer 4

Different vets, will perform this surgery in different ways. An incision is made 3-6cm caudal to the umbilicus into the skin, subcutaneous tissues, and the linea alba. The spey hook is used to elevate the uterine horns. A clamp is placed across the ovarian pedicle and one across the ovarian ligament and a ligature is placed between these two clamps. This is completed on both ovaries. Once this is complete the uterine body can be exteriorised. This is done by placing two haemostats cranial to the cervix and placing a ligature between them. The surgeon may release one of the clamps to ensure the ligature is tight and will not cause bleeding. Once the ligature is secure the surgeon will then transect the uterine body between the clamp and the ligature. The abdominal cavity may be flushed with sterile saline and then closed routinely.

Question 5

Post op

Answer 5

The wound should be monitored for haemorrhage. An Elizabethan collar should be placed post operatively.