In-Hospital Training Opportunities
Rigid Endoscopy and Minimally Invasive Surgery

Goal : to assist veterinarians in becoming more proficient in minimally invasive diagnostic procedures and surgeries currently performed in general surgery. This includes cystoscopy,arthroscopy, rhinoscopy, and laparoscopy. The purpose of the in-hospital training is to build on experiences learned from wet-lab courses, or start from new. Participants should be able to increase their skill level and increase confidence in MIS for the practice.

Method: Instruction will be in the hospital of the practice desiring additional training. Instruction can be provided to individuals or to a group in the practice. Training can include non-animate models, non-survival animals, and clinical patients. The initial level of training will be exploration and biopsies of the abdomen, urinary bladder, and nose. Minimally invasive surgical procedures can include laparoscopic incisional gastropexy, laparoscopic jejunostomy tube placement,laparoscopic ovariohysterectomy, and cryptorchid retrieval . The practice should have a functional endosurgical system and it would be best if some experience had already been acquired.

Initial level of training can include:

•  Abdominal exploratory and biopsies (liver, kidney, pancreas, lymph nodes, small intestines, prostate, etc)
•  Endoscopic examination and biopsies of urinary bladder, nose, and upper aikrways
•  Biopsy for diagnosis and staging of cancer
•  Arthroscopic evaluation of the joint: stifle, shoulder

Minimally invasive surgical procedures currently being performed include:

•  Laparoscopic incisional gastropexy (Preventative and Treatment)

•  Laparoscopic enterostomy tube placement

•  Laparoscopic cyptorchid castration

•  Laparoscopic ovariohysterectomy

•  Laparoscopic cystoscopic calculi removal

•  Laparoscopic colopexy for recurrent rectal prolapse

•  Laparoscopic gastrostomy for foreign body removal

•  Thoracoscopic pericardial resection for pericardial effusion

Rigid Endoscopy for Small Animals

 

Rigid Endoscopy is still a fairly new concept to small animal medicine. Although some specialists have been performing procedures for years, most general practitioners are just now catching on to the idea as the techniques are being disseminated to the veterinary community. The learning curve for Rigid Endoscopy is fairly LOW when you do a few cases with other practitioners skilled in the concepts.

 

Many procedures are available, including: exploratory, biopsy, cryptorchid castration, ovariohysterectomy, arthroscopy, cystoscopy, and upper airway endoscopy. Dogs in which the testicles have not completely descended, often the testicle is in the abdomen requiring retrieval via an endoscope. Some pets that have stones in their bladders may be able to have them removed through the scope, avoiding invasive abdominal surgeries. Dogs with chronic coughs not attributable to heart or long disease can be evaluated using an endoscope.

 

Some treatment modalities are also available such as urinary incontinence therapy, and surgical treatment for snoring dogs that can't sleep well. Arthroscopy offers veterinarians a way to look inside the joints of limping dogs and perhaps perform some therapy through the scopes.

 

 

Educational Downloads       Click below to download the documents described.   Dr. Mayo's Arthroscopy Class Notes - CLICK HERE   Dr. Mayo's Rigid Endoscopy Class Notes - CLICK HERE   Dr. Mayo's Rigid Endoscopy Chart - CLICK HERE (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

 

    For more information on how to sterilize equipment, CLICK HERE.

Continuing Education Courses: 2008

 Rigid Endoscopy, J Mayo, DVM

 

---Check back in 2008 for more information---