Complications of equine castration

Question 1

What are the clinical signs of failing to achieve adequate anaesthesia?

Answer 1

Kicking in standing horse.

Persistent movement in anaesthetised horse

Question 2

What is the cause of failing to achieve adequate anaesthesia?

Answer 2

Not enough drugs

Question 3

How can you prevent failure to achieve adequate anaesthesia?

Answer 3

Giving correct drugs at the right time, weigh the horse

Question 4

How can failure to achieve adequate anaesthesia be treated?

Answer 4

Check for nystagmus etc.. – prevent by monitoring

Question 5

What are the clinical signs of failure to remove the testis?

Answer 5

Testis absent from scrotum or inguinal region

Question 6

What is Failure to remove testis caused by?

Answer 6

cryptorchidism

Question 7

How can Failure to remove testis be prevented?

Answer 7

Identify in pre-op exam

Question 8

How can Failure to remove testis be treated?

Answer 8

Identify presence and location of testis.

Plan appropriate surgical approach to locate and remove testis.

DO NOT remove descended testis and leave cryptorchid one!

Question 9

What are the clinical signs of Haemorrhage?

• NB Minor bleeds are very common*
• Major bleeds can be life-threatening*

Answer 9

Varies from slow drip (from clamped stump or from skin vessels) to severe continuous flow of blood (from failed clamp or ligature on main artery)

Occurs during op or first 48 hours

Question 10

What is Haemorrhage caused by?

Answer 10

Slow drip from stump: normal post emasculation

Slow drip from skin vessels – normal

Donkeys and mature animals may have increased vasculature

Fast, continuous flow: failure to ligate testicular artery or failure to use emasculators properly (always place nuts to nuts)

Question 11

How can haemhorrhage be prevented?

Answer 11

Placing nut to nut, ligating the vessels, or can suture the scrotum closed for mild haemorrhage.

Severe haemorrhages – clamp the spermatic cord stump and can leave for 25 hours, can ligate the testicular artery, can ligate the whole cord.

Must assess the cardiovascular status.

Question 12

How can haemhorrhage be treated?

Answer 12

Minor – pack with swabs

Severe haemorrhages – clamp the spermatic cord stump and can leave for 24 hours, can ligate the testicular artery, can ligate the whole cord.

Must assess the cardiovascular status.

Question 13

What are the clinical signs of Iatrogenic penile damage?

Answer 13

Incision into penile tissue noticed during surgery or penile damage / protrusion / haemorrhage post-op

Question 14

What is Iatrogenic penile damage caused by?

Answer 14

Failure to identify and avoid penile tissue during procedure

Question 15

How can Iatrogenic penile damage be prevented?

Answer 15

Careful palpation and correct surgical approach

Question 16

How can Iatrogenic penile damage be treated?

Answer 16

Normally is self limiting, try to suture up the laceration, possible penile amputation

Question 17

What are the clinical signs of post-op swelling / oedema?

Very common

Answer 17

Swelling and oedema of scrotum and prepuce, causes discomfort to the animal, reluctance to move or urinate.

Question 18

What causes post-op swelling / oedema?

Answer 18

Can be caused by infection, haematoma,

Question 19

How can post-op swelling / oedema be prevented?

Answer 19

Walking exercise

Question 20

How can post-op swelling / oedema be treated?

Answer 20

Mild swelling– walking or riding exercise for 30 mins twice a day, NSAIDs.

More severe swelling – digital exploration and drainage. Check for evidence of infection.

Question 21

What are the clinical signs of Scrotal abscess / post op infection?

Common

Answer 21

May be open and draining or closed – hot, swollen and painful.

Rarely extend into peritoneal cavity or present as peritonitis

Question 22

What is Scrotal abscess / post op infection caused by?

Answer 22

Excessive bacterial contamination, SSA rather than hospitalised GA.

Question 23

How is Scrotal abscess / post op infection prevented?

Answer 23

Try to make the technique as clean as possible despite perhaps carrying the procedure out in the yard.

Question 24

How is Scrotal abscess / post op infection treated?

Answer 24

Digital drainage of pus from wound, gentle lavage of scrotal cavity with dilute antiseptics, parenteral antibiotics if systemic signs present.

Question 25

What are the clinical signs of Champignon?

Answer 25

Proud granulation tissue +/- purulent discharge

Question 26

What is Champignon caused by?

Answer 26

Associated with S. zooepidemicus, by ligation/clamping of spermatic cord as ligatures act as a harbour for persistent infection.

Question 27

How can champignon be prevented?

Answer 27

Minimise degree of contamination during surgery, absorbable ligatures.

Question 28

How can champignon be treated?

Answer 28

Surgical removal of diseased area and wound drainage.

If very bad – re-emasculate and cut off stump, or infection can track upwards. Done under GA.

5 day IM penicillin to help

Question 29

What are the clinical signs of Schirrous cord?

RARE

Answer 29

Cold, painless scrotal swelling and discharging tract

chronic persistent spermatic cord infection, multiple small abscesses

may have hind limb lameness

Question 30

What is Schirrous cord caused by?

Answer 30

Low grade staphylococcal infection,

Question 31

How can Schirrous cord be prevented?

Answer 31

Careful ligation and packing scrotum with a sterile bandage at the time of the procedure. Clean procedure

Question 32

How can Schirrous cord be treated?

Answer 32

GA and Surgical removal

Antibiotics, but only reduces discharge, doesn’t treat

Question 33

What are the clinical signs of Hydrocoele?

Answer 33

Non-painful scrotal swelling – accumulation of fluid in the vaginal tunic, usually unilateral.

Question 34

What is a Hydrocoele caused by?

Answer 34

Not removing enough vaginal tunic during castrations, often occurs with open castrations.

Question 35

How can a Hydrocoele be prevented?

Answer 35

Correct procedure

Question 36

How can a Hydrocoele be treated?

Answer 36

? need to treat – not of much concern

GA and surgical removal of redundant vaginal tunic