Urogenital Surgeries
Male
• Cryptorchid castration
• Circumcision
• Penile amputation
• Urethrotomy
Cryptorchidism
• Left testicles - more likely abdominal
• Right testicles - more likely inguinal
• Previous surgical exploration
– makes identification of surgical landmarks difficult
• If the side of cryptorchidism is unknown, surgery can be prolonged and laparoscopic exploration of the abdomen may
be a better approach
Geldings with Stallion-like Behavior
• Serum testosterone at time zero and 30 to 120 minutes after ? 6000 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) IV
– Geldings have serum testosterone levels of less than 40 pg/ml
– Cryptorchids have serum concentrations of greater than 100 pg/mL
• Baseline testosterone levels – < 40 pg/ml = gelding
– > 100 pg/ml = testicular tissue
• Post hCG stimulation – 6,000 or 12,000 IU given intravenously
– 1 hour & 2 hour - 200 % INCREASE
– 24 hours & 48 hours - 400 % INCREASE
• Estrogen Assays – Conjugated or unconjugated
• most common tested is estrogen sulfate
– Increased levels
– > 3 years of age - 95-96% accurate
– False negatives - < 3 years or donkeys
• If <18 months of age or during winter
may respond poorly to HCG
Collect additional sample 24 hours after HCG
retest when older or during the spring
Rectal palpation
• may help determine location
– Horses with abdominal testicles will have a small or indiscernible inguinal ring
– A larger ring with evidence of the ductus deferens entering the canal indicates the horse is an incomplete
abdominal cryptorchid, is an inguinal cryptorchid, or has a descended scrotal testicle
• Perform based on temperament and size of the horse, and the anticipated surgical approach
• Bilateral cryptorchidism occurs in up to 15% of cryptorchid horses
Cryptorchid Castration
Equipment • Emasculators - White's modified, Serra, and Reimer
• Sponge forceps - to evert the vaginal process
Anatomy • Picture of normal testicle
• Epididymis – Head, body & tail
• Gubernaculum
– proper ligament
– Ligament of the tail of the epididymis
– Scrotal ligament
