Laparoscopic Spays

What is laparoscopic surgery? 
Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgery. Laparoscopy is considered the gold standard in human medicine - now we can provide that same high standard of care and benefit to our pets.

How does a laparoscopic spay work? 
A laparoscopic spay, also known as a laparoscopic ovariectomy, is a minimally invasive spay that removes the ovaries. It is a less painful alternative to traditional spays. A single small keyhole incision is made. A camera will view the ovarian ligament and blood vessels directly. The ovarian ligament does not need to be torn, which can be one of the most painful parts of the traditional spay procedure. An instrument is used to cauterize (close) and cut through blood vessels and tissues. No tension is placed on the uterus (which is not removed). The surgery time runs shorter, and there's less bleeding, if any. Due to a significantly smaller incision, recovery generally occurs in half the time compared to post-operative timeframes for an open spay operation. 


What are the benefits?

The benefits of a laparoscopic spay are numerous compared to a traditional spay. The most significant upsides include:

• A smaller incision which translates to less pain post-operatively and quicker healing.
• Better visibility for the surgeon, resulting in shorter anesthesia times and fewer complications such as bleeding.
• Better precision as our laparoscopic cameras can magnify the image and visualization of the structures, allowing for greater surgical precision and fewer complications.
• The magnified view of the ovarian ligament allows the doctor to carefully cut and cauterize it rather than blindly tearing it, as in a traditional spay; this eliminates the pain your pet would experience from bruising caused by tearing the ligament. 
• We use a vessel-sealing device that seals the blood vessels before cutting them. Once a blood vessel has been sealed like this, there is a very low chance of future bleeding. In a traditional spay, the blood vessels are tied off using sutures, which can potentially loosen or slip.
• Utilizing a laparoscopic spay, we only remove your pet's ovaries, versus a traditional spay, where the ovaries and uterus are completely removed. Studies show that only removing the ovaries (ovariectomy) has all the same benefits as a conventional ovariohysterectomy but is much less invasive.
• Faster anesthetic recoveries, meaning your pet can go home sooner
• A lap spay uses smaller incisions than a traditional "open approach" surgery. Although the body will still need to heal these incisions, it can allow a shorter recovery time and a quicker return to regular activity. This can typically take seven days compared to the standard fourteen days.

A 2005 Journal of the Veterinary Medical Association study concluded that laparoscopic spays caused less surgical stress and up to 65% less post-operative pain than a traditional "open" surgical spay.

In cases of more giant breeds, such as deep-chested dogs, a laparoscopic gastropexy can be performed during the lap spay to prevent life-threatening gastric torsion (bloat).