gpig abscess after castration

Re: gpig abscess after castration

John Ellis — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 22:17:14 GMT

Fantastic advice about the midline approach - I have always done them scrotally, just recently did 5 belonging to the same owner (another 6 to go!) and one developed a scrotal abscess on the RHS - I marsupialised it and treated with baytril, topical f10 lavage/debridement and filling with manuka honey. Saw him back again today and looking great, granulated well and almost completely filled in - v happy considering it was a massive crater once I had marsupialised it!! But annoying that it happened in the first place - think I will try your approach Marie, for the subsequent 6!!

John

Re: gpig abscess after castration

Marie Kubiak — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 18:31:59 GMT

Sure. It's a midline laparotomy, the 1-2cm incision made between the palpable cranial extent of the penis and the umbilicus.

Standard technique, going through the linea alba but delicately as the muscles are thin compared to a cat/dog.

Then with one hand I push one testicle into the abdomen with manual pressure on the scrotum (through a plastic drape) and use the other hand to grab hold of it gently using atraumatic forceps. I find it easier to visualise the testicle this way as it is moving and all other organs stay still. I use ring tip forceps as they grip it well but don't shred the testicle like rat tooths would. As you pull the tsticle towards the incision you should be able to see the scrotal ligment tethering it caudally and gently break this down. Then the free testicle is easily exteriorised and an open castrate done. I remove the attached fat pad too for speed and better ligature placement.

Closure is routine - I use monocryl simple continuous in linea alba and s/c fat then intradermally.

Marie

Re: gpig abscess after castration

Chris Allen — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 13:01:58 GMT

Marie, sorry to go slightly off topic can you outline the abdominal approach? Not something I have seen before...

Re: gpig abscess after castration

Marie Kubiak — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 07:17:40 GMT

I'd second oral metronidazole if no culture permitted.

Was this is a scrotal castration? If so then it would be worth looking at changing to abdominal approach - I was taught to do them scrotally but ended up with infected wounds far more commonly than in other species. Their anatomy lends itself to scrotal wounds being dragged along the floor through faeces, hay, mud etc and since changing to abdominal approach I haven't had any infected wounds and surgery is quicker too.

Marie

Re: gpig abscess after castration

Glenn Hodgson — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 20:47:26 GMT

I'd add flagyl if o not keen to spend on culture. Will also marsupialise the bad ones.

I suspect more a g.pig reaction than a suture reaction.

Re: gpig abscess after castration

Glenn Hodgson — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 20:47:24 GMT

I'd add flagyl if o not keen to spend on culture. Will also marsupialise the bad ones.

I suspect more a g.pig reaction than a suture reaction.