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Laparoscopic Surgery
(Minimally Invasive Surgery)
The Jaffe Animal Clinic is proud to be one of the only animal clinics in Palm Beach County offering Minimally Invasive Surgery. In fact, it is estimated that only 2% of veterinary practices in the United States use laparoscopy.
Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive technique for viewing the internal structures of the abdominal cavity.
Minimally invasive means minimal disruption of surrounding tissue and organs, minimizing patient discomfor after surgery. We believe that all surgical patients experience pain. That is why all of our surgical patients are treated before, during and after their surgery with pain medication.
Procedures performed Laparoscopically or Lap Assisted:
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Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive technique for viewing the internal structures of the abdominal cavity.
Minimally invasive means minimal disruption of surrounding tissue and organs, minimizing patient discomfor after surgery. We believe that all surgical patients experience pain. That is why all of our surgical patients are treated before, during and after their surgery with pain medication.
Procedures performed Laparoscopically or Lap Assisted:
- Dog Spay
- Major Organ Biopsy
- Bladder Stone Removal
- Gastropexy (to prevent gastric torsion) (click here to learn more)
- Cryptorchid Neuter
- Nasal flushing/biopsy
- Ear examination/flushing
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Gastropexy: attachment of the stomach
to the abdominal wall. Laparoscopic liver biopsy
<---Nasal mites causing reverse sneezing
Why laparoscopic?
Minimally invasive ovariectomy is a major advancement over traditional spay surgery and Dr. Jaffe is one of the few veterinarians in the country to offer this procedure.
Traditional spays are performed through a 2-4" incision into the abdomen through which the ovarian ligament is TORN from the abdominal wall. This tearing causes brusing to the abdominal wall and signficant post-operative pain. By performing the procedure laparscopically, the patient experiences less trauma and minimal pain.
In a laparoscopic dog spay the procedure is performed through 2 small incisions in the abdomen, typically 5-10mm in size. With the laparoscope, we are able to perform the surgery with magnified views of the organs, allowing for greater precision. The ovarian ligament is carefully cauterized and when appropriate, ligated (rather than torn). With laparscopic spays we are able to offer our patients reduced pain, minimal recovery time and less trauma than traditional spays.
Another improvement in this procedure is the removal of only the ovaries. This is done based upon a study published in the Journal of Veterinary Surgery in 2006. (click here to read the entire study). This study compared ovariectomy (removal of the ovaries) to ovariohysterectomy (removal of ovaries and uterus). The study conclusions were as follows: "OVH is technically more complicated, time consuming, and is probably associated with greater morbidity (larger incision, more intraoperative trauma, increased discomfort) compared with OVE." The study stated the clinical relevance being " Canine OVE can replace OVH as the procedure of choice for routine neutering of healthy female dogs".
Ovariectomy has been the procedure of choice in Europe for several decades. With the published data available to veterinarians in the United States, the Jaffe Animal Clinic is adopting the study's recommendations.
The ovariectomy procedure is even less traumatic to your pet when done laparscopically. This will enable your pet to return to normal activities sooner, have less discomfort, and your pet will not usually need an E-collar.
Not all pets are candidates for laparoscopic spays. Because of this, a pre-surgical evaluation by Dr. Jaffe is required before an appointment can be scheduled.
Are there any disadvantages to Laparoscopic Spays over the traditional method??
Laparoscopic surgeries cost a little more due to the additional training required by the doctor and the signficant investment in equipment including the scopes, video monitors, ports, and specially designed laparscopic instruments.
Are spays done laparoscopically in cats??
No. A typically laparoscopic incision is about 10mm and a routine ovariectomy incision is not much larger. Because of the size of the patient and the size of the instrumentation, there is not a significant benefit to have the procedure done laparoscopically.
Is the post-op care and length of recovery different??
There are no sutures to remove following a laparscopic ovariectomy. We still recommend restricting activity for one week following surgery and monitoring the incisions for signs of redness, swelling or discharge. Recovery times are shorter for laparscopic surgery.
- The small incision size minimizes tissue trauma and pain
- Tissue is removed without tearing, minimizing pain.
- Better visualizationof surgical procedure, minimizing complications.
- Your pet is back to normal much more quickly.
Minimally invasive ovariectomy is a major advancement over traditional spay surgery and Dr. Jaffe is one of the few veterinarians in the country to offer this procedure.
Traditional spays are performed through a 2-4" incision into the abdomen through which the ovarian ligament is TORN from the abdominal wall. This tearing causes brusing to the abdominal wall and signficant post-operative pain. By performing the procedure laparscopically, the patient experiences less trauma and minimal pain.
In a laparoscopic dog spay the procedure is performed through 2 small incisions in the abdomen, typically 5-10mm in size. With the laparoscope, we are able to perform the surgery with magnified views of the organs, allowing for greater precision. The ovarian ligament is carefully cauterized and when appropriate, ligated (rather than torn). With laparscopic spays we are able to offer our patients reduced pain, minimal recovery time and less trauma than traditional spays.
Another improvement in this procedure is the removal of only the ovaries. This is done based upon a study published in the Journal of Veterinary Surgery in 2006. (click here to read the entire study). This study compared ovariectomy (removal of the ovaries) to ovariohysterectomy (removal of ovaries and uterus). The study conclusions were as follows: "OVH is technically more complicated, time consuming, and is probably associated with greater morbidity (larger incision, more intraoperative trauma, increased discomfort) compared with OVE." The study stated the clinical relevance being " Canine OVE can replace OVH as the procedure of choice for routine neutering of healthy female dogs".
Ovariectomy has been the procedure of choice in Europe for several decades. With the published data available to veterinarians in the United States, the Jaffe Animal Clinic is adopting the study's recommendations.
The ovariectomy procedure is even less traumatic to your pet when done laparscopically. This will enable your pet to return to normal activities sooner, have less discomfort, and your pet will not usually need an E-collar.
Not all pets are candidates for laparoscopic spays. Because of this, a pre-surgical evaluation by Dr. Jaffe is required before an appointment can be scheduled.
Are there any disadvantages to Laparoscopic Spays over the traditional method??
Laparoscopic surgeries cost a little more due to the additional training required by the doctor and the signficant investment in equipment including the scopes, video monitors, ports, and specially designed laparscopic instruments.
Are spays done laparoscopically in cats??
No. A typically laparoscopic incision is about 10mm and a routine ovariectomy incision is not much larger. Because of the size of the patient and the size of the instrumentation, there is not a significant benefit to have the procedure done laparoscopically.
Is the post-op care and length of recovery different??
There are no sutures to remove following a laparscopic ovariectomy. We still recommend restricting activity for one week following surgery and monitoring the incisions for signs of redness, swelling or discharge. Recovery times are shorter for laparscopic surgery.
Laparoscopic spay (Ovariectomy): This video has been edited for time. Only the removal of one ovary is seen. The other ovary is removed in a similar fashion.
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Video otoscopy showing why a chronic recurring ear infection was happening in this dog. After thoroughly cleaning out the ear canal, a tear in the ear drum was found causing a middle ear infection. Before coming to us, the dog had never had an ear flush performed under anesthesia so the ears were never properly cleaned out before using medication. After we found the tear in the ear drum, we flushed out the middle ear and then put this dog on about 4 weeks of oral antibiotics and ear medications. The ear drum repaired itself after a couple weeks and the dog has never been happier.
Removing an ear poly from a cat's ear. The ear polyp was causing recurring ear infections.
Flushing a dog's ear using the laparoscope. Notice the difference from before and after the flushing.
TO WATCH A VIDEO OF A LAPAROSCOPIC DOG SPAY AND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OTHER PROCEDURES THAT WE PERFORM USING MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY, CLICK HERE.
