DOING SURGICAL EQUINE FIELD WORK

 Equine work days tend to be long by nature. Inefficiency and/or unpreparedness can significantly increase
the length of the day.
 Adding 5 minutes to the day for each patient can unnecessarily increase the length of the workday (24
patients = 2 hours, 50 patients = 4 hours)
 DO NOT STAND IDLE IF ALL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES ARE NOT READY FOR THE NEXT
PROCEDURE.
 You will be assigned to a team. Communications should run within and between teams so that everyone is
ready and plays their own position.
Additional notes:
 Organization: It is critical that all necessary equipment and drugs are easily available, clearly labeled, and
easy to move. Items should NOT be carried in pockets (they will fall out when you bend over) or gathered
together in an “arm load” (you will drop them). They should be in carry-alls, buckets, and/or toolboxes where
they are accessible and can be kept close to the patient. Blades, needles and syringes must be put in the
carry-all immediately after use to avoid their getting lost.
 Preparation: Start prepared and stay prepared. The students on an equine field outing are responsible for
adequately preparing for the outing. Prior to leaving the clinic/trailer you must check that there are sufficient:
◊ Forms ◊ Vaccines--tetanus antitoxin, tetanus, and rabies
◊ Syringes ◊ Cooler/Ice packs
◊ Needles ◊ Sterile surgical gloves
◊ Blades ◊ Garbage bags
◊ Buckets ◊ Sharps containers
◊ Caddies ◊ The equine surgery box-fully stocked
◊ Carbocaine ◊ The equine foot box
◊ Banamine ◊ Drinking water
◊ PPG ◊ Insect repellant Insect repellant
◊ Snacks/lunch ◊ Sun block
◊ Equine pharmacy ◊ Equine anesthesia pillows
◊ Filled carboys, collapsible water jugs or buckets lined with garbage bags, twisted shut above the water
level
REQUIRED READING
All Students who plan to participate in an equine outing must read the chapter on equine castration in Turner
and McIlwraith “Techniques in Large Animal Surgery”. It may also be beneficial to read the chapters on
cryptorchidectomy by noninvasive inguinal approach, and umbilical herniorrhaphy in the foal.
THE SURGERY PROCESS
 It is VERY important that surgery be done quickly and it should begin within minutes of induction. This requires
that all members of the team have all their equipment available and know exactly what they are going to do.
 IF YOU ARE INVOLVED IN AN EQUINE CASTRATION AND ARE UNSURE HOW TO COMPLETE YOUR
ASSIGNED ROLL, TELL THE SUPERVISOR BEFORE THE PROCEDURE BEGINS! Delay will result in
anesthetic problems and a difficult recovery.
 Wait until the legs relax, before approaching the patient.

ASSESS YOUR PATIENT AND FORM

AN ANESTHETIC PLAN BASED ON:
Your patient’s
size and
temperament,

the experience level of your surgeon and support

team, as well as your surroundings and available
equipment.
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 EXAMINE YOUR PATIENT
 Whenever possible do a brief physical exam on your patient prior to anesthesia.
 Fractious patients may not be examined prior to anesthesia. Pushing the issue of physical exam in a
fractious patient can increase the risk to your safety, the safety of your patient, and may compromise the
anesthesia and recovery process.
ANESTHETIZE YOUR PATIENT
 Administer sedation,
 Wait for adequate sedation (head below withers)
 Administer ketamine and valium
 Open gate if working in bucking chute
 Wait for patient to drop in chute if working in squeeze chute with a side door
 If working with a manageable patient, drop patient on the left side if possible (this
makes the castration easier for right handed surgeons) and do not make any attempt
to knock the patient off of its feet.
 The anesthetist should check the patient’s level of anesthesia, place a towel over the
eye, and place a pillow under the head.
 All team members should be prepared to perform their assigned tasks prior to the
patient becoming recumbent.
 Stay prepared.
 Once the patient is recumbent and adequately anesthetized the rest of team
should move quickly to complete their assigned task/tasks as efficiently as
possible.
 Do not rush the patient. Wait until they are fully relaxed to proceed. The upper leg
should be resting on the ground.
 Everyone involved in the process must remain on the horses back side, which is the
 side away from the hooves.
 The exception to this is if you are doing a procedure involving the leg or foot.
TIE THE LEG ROPE
The upper leg is then tied to get it out of the surgeon’s way. This may be done in a variety of ways, depending
on the facilities and the supervising veterinarian’s preference.
The following is commonly used in North Dakota. Assuming that the patient is positioned on its left side:
 Position yourself behind the patient. Raise the upper leg (the patient’s right leg)
 Stand so that you are in contact with the leg so that if the patient moves you will be pushed, not kicked
 Place the noose end around the pastern.
 Figure eight around the hock twice ending at the pastern.
 Place a half hitch at the pastern.
 Step back from the patient and pass the rope behind your hind end. Lean back on the rope and let your
body weight rather than strength do the work DO NOT TIE THE ROPE AROUND YOURSELF.
 The rope should lie smooth and flat on the leg.
 A ¾ “rope of adequate length (15-20 feet) is the rope of choice for adult horses.
 A 5/8” rope 12-15 feet long is more suitable for minis, ponies, foals and/or burros.

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 SCRUB THE SCROTUM
 Position your bucket with necessary supplies behind the
patient’s leg.
 Place your body against the hock so that the patient’s foot is to
the left of your head
 Using an ez scrub sponge and the water, scrub the scrotal area
until clean. DO NOT PLACE USED SPONGES INTO THE
CLEAN WATER BUCKET.
 Rinse the scrotum with clean nolvasan water, using a pitcher,
gauze, or absorbent cotton.
NOTE: The student in the photo on the right is properly
positioned. The student in the photo on the left is not in contact
with the patient’s leg and is not protecting herself from a kick if
the patient moves.
BLOCK THE SPERMATIC CORD OR TESTI AND SKIN
 Inject the spermatic cord of each testis with 10-15 mls of mepivicaine or lidocaine
to achieve local anesthesia.
 Alternatively, a larger volume (20-30 mls) can be injected directly into the center of
each testis.
o This technique is easier to learn, but it takes more time for the anesthetic to
migrate up the chord, causing the desired effects.
o If the surgery team is efficient, the procedure may be done before the
local anesthetic has any effect.
o Injecting local anesthetic in this way does NOT anesthetize the
scrotal skin, but does decrease the stimulation caused by manipulating
the testis and paralyzes the cremaster and tunic muscles, making it
easier to get maximal exposure of the cord.
 Using a 35 cc syringe with an 18 gauge needle on it filled with 1% or 2%
carbocaine.
 If the patient/testis is small, point the needle directly into the testis and inject until it is turgid. If the
testis is not turgid, the carbocaine will not diffuse up the cord and thereby not affect your patient’s
surgical or anesthetic experience. Repeat with second testis.
 If the patient/ testis is large, isolate and grasp the spermatic cord firmly.
Insert the needle where the cord rolls over your thumb and index finger,
aspirate to insure you’re not in a vessel, and inject 10 ml carbocaine.
 Repeat in second cord. This technique is only effective when the block is
placed within the cord. The carbocaine cannot diffuse across the tunic.
 Slide the needle below the skin and inject 5-7 mls of block where you plan
to incise.
 Replace the needle on the carbocaine syringe and refill if needed.
NOTE: Maintain correct body position as the testis is injected. Always remain in contact with the
patient’s leg.
ADMINISTER INJECTIONS: VACCINES, FLUNIXIN , PPG
 Administer PPG, flunixin meglumine, tetanus antitoxin (if appropriate), and
vaccines
 If the surgical process has begun prior to PPG administration, the Penicillin can be
administered after both emasculators are in place
 Always verify what is in the syringe prior to administration. Do not administer any
drug if you do not fully understand what its function is, and how much the patient
should receive.

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  State clearly and audibly what you are administering and by what route as you do so. Each step
performed during a team effort should be stated clearly in a loud enough voice for the entire team to
hear.
 This will prevent patients from receiving the same treatment twice and will allow the scribe to record all
pertinent information
 “Prepping,” “Tetanus toxoid administered IM,” “Blocking,”
 “30 ml PPG administered IM,” “8 ml flunixin administered IV,”
 “Incising”

NOTE: you should be familiar with all tasks and supplies necessary to complete the castration
process. Never stand idle if all equipment and supplies are not ready for the next patient.
POSITION YOUR EQUIPMENT
 Place the bucket filled with surgical instruments, emasculators and
nolvasan water behind the patient’s leg and in reach of the
surgical field

MAKE TWO PARALLEL INCISIONS

Note: Correct blade hold

 Position yourself behind the patient, between the legs and put your
 left shoulder against the inner right leg of the patient.
 Identify both testes prior to making any incision.
 NEVER INCISE IF YOU HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED BOTH TESTES
 In larger patients, place your non dominant hand in front of the testes and push
them back toward you into the scrotum so the skin is pulled taught over them.
 In smaller patients you will be unable to push the testes into the scrotum. Use
your non dominant hand to stretch the skin taught over the testes, this will
enable you to make your incisions
 Identify median raphe
 Make an incision 1 cm to either side of the median raphe. The incisions should be parallel and will be
about 1” apart.
 The goal is to make the incision through all layers in one attempt.
 Using your blade make an incision long enough to allow exposure of the testis
 If the testes are too large to allow you to grasp both at the same time, stabilize one at a time being careful
to align your incisions parallel to one another.
EXPOSE THE TESTIS
 START WITH THE DOWN
TESTIS
 Make an incision for a finger
hold through the tunic at the 
proximal pole of the testis or
apply a towel clamp.
 Remember to place the towel clamp low enough so that it does
not tear out of the testis. Hold the testis and the
towel clamp in the palm of your hand.
STRIP THE CORD

 Holding the testis with your non dominant hand,
grasp the cord firmly with your dominant hand and
stroke the cord repeatedly
 You will initially feel that nothing is happening, then, almost all at
once, the fascia will slip away exposing cord.
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 Record the method of emasculation performed--cord split (refer to required reading in Turner and
McIlwairth) closed, routine, ligated, etc.

PLACE THE EMASCULATORS

 BEGIN WITH THE DOWN TESTIS
 Open the emasculator jaws and place them around the
cord
 Orient the emasculators wing nut pointing towards the
testis (nut to nut)
 Be certain that the ratchet handle is open fully
o The handles must face the back of the horse
o The emasculators must be held perpendicular to
the cord and parallel to the patient’s body.
 Partially close the jaws of the emasculator
o only close until the emasculators “grab the cord” and make a
crunching sound
 Release all tension on the testis (put the testis down)
 Place both hands on the handles of the emasculators and close
them completely in one smooth crush maintaining the position of the emasculators
parallel to the body and perpendicular to the cord.
 Lock the ratchet shut and set the emasculators down.
 Repeat the entire process with the second testis
STRETCH THE INCISIONS
 With the emasculators in place, place an index finger or thumb into the front and back
edge of your incision and stretch the skin UNTIL YOU FEEL IT TEAR.
 DO THIS STEP AS IF YOU MEAN IT
RELEASE THE TENSION ON THE LEG ROPE
 Release the tension on the leg rope and allow the upper leg to rest on the
lower.
 Wait a sufficient time.
 One minute per year of age of your patient.
 Longer is better.
REMOVE THE EMASCULATORS
 Raise the leg and remove
 Holding the emasculators parallel to the body of your
patient and perpendicular to the cord, open them to release the cord.
 Look for bleeding as the cord slips back into the patient.
 Trim any tissue that will hang down below the incision once the patient
stands
 Clean the patients scrotum
 Pull the patients down leg forward, to prevent the radial nerve from “falling
asleep”
 Pick up any gauze etc that has been thrown on the ground
 Check that the patient’s record is completed
 Prepare for the next patient
EMASCULATING OLDER HORSES
 For patients with larger testi the cord will be split. The vessels will be crushed first and the cremaster
and tunic will be crushed second.
 Separating the vessels from the tunic and cremaster allows the surgeon to obtain a better crush and
reduces the amount of bleeding that will occur.

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 SPLITTING THE CORD
 Once the cord is adequately exposed
(has been stripped) scissors are
inserted into the tunic and run
proximally opening the tunic.
 A clamp is placed on the tunic to
prevent it from slipping out of the
surgeons control
 The thumbs are used to puncture a hole through the mesorchian,
thus separating the vessels from the tunic and cremaster.

THE CRUSH IN TWO STEPS

 Crush the vessels first.
 The emasculators need only be on the vessels for a short time, as the crush is
improved by removing the cremaster and tunic from this step.
 Crush the cremaster and tunic.
 Repeat the process with the second testis

REMOVING
THE MEDIAN RAPHE
 This is an optional step that is used infrequently on HSVMA trips
 Hold the median raphe in your non dominant hand and apply
traction to stretch the skin
 Identify and avoid any large
vessels.
 Use a pair of scissors to
cut out the raphe

THE RECOVERY
 Many patients are better off
left to recover by themselves
 For those who are amenable
to assistance:

o Do not attempt to help the horse to his feet using the lead rope or head, this unbalances the patient and
may cause them to fall
o To assist the patient to its feet, pull straight back on the tail, only until the patient has risen and regained its
balance
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 Data: the anesthetist or scribe is responsible for recording all data during the procedure. The name,
amount, and site of drugs given must be recorded, along with the time of administration. There are also
places on the equine form to record physical parameters, complications, and the NAMES of the surgeon
and anesthetist. It is very important that medications are recorded at the time they are given. Relying on
memory on a busy day is a recipe for error.

 Catheters: IV catheters will be placed in selected cases (cyrptorchids and other longer
procedures). The ease of jugular venipuncture in the horse makes them unnecessary for routine cases.

 Triple drip: RAVS occasionally uses a combination of xylazine (500mg), ketamine (1000 mg or 1 g), in a liter
of 5% guaifenesin (50 mg/ml) given at 1 ml/lb/hr. Alternatively 5 % guaifenesin can be given in boluses (not
exceeding 1 ml/lb/hr) with intermittent injections of xylazine and ketamine as described above. This
combination requires a jugular catheter and provides more muscle relaxation. It is used for cryptorchid
surgery, exploration of draining tracts, and other extended procedures.

 Crypt: whenever possible the horse’s scrotum should be examined prior to surgery to determine if both
testes are descended through the inguinal canal. If the horse is a possible cryptorchid, an IV catheter
should be placed prior to induction and a “crypt pack”, which includes drapes and sterile instruments, should
be available. It is up to the discretion of the supervising veterinarian as to whether a cryptorchid will receive
surgery. The non-descended testis is operated first and the descended testis is never removed unless the
cryptorchid one can be found.

A REVIEW OF IMPORTANT SURGICAL POINTS

 Identify two testi prior to incising
 Verify that you have adequate exposure prior to emasculating
 Split larger cords to obtain a better crush and minimize bleeding
 Orient the emasculators correctly:
o Nut to nut
o Handles toward the patients tail
o Handles perpendicular to the cord and parallel to the body
 Close the emasculators only until they start to grab or bite the cord, then release all tension on the
cord by setting the testis down.
 Verify that the ratchet at the end of the handles is fully open, enabling it to lock shut when closed.
 Verify that there is no skin caught within the blades of the emasculators
 Close the emasculators completely in one smooth crush.
 Latch the ratchet.
FOLLOWING THESE STEPS WILL REDUCE THE NUMBER AND SEVERITY OF BLEEDING AND
RELATED COMPLICATIONS

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 PROCESSING THE EMASCULATORS
ALWAYS PROCESS A SINGLE PAIR of emasculators at a time. The parts are made individually.
Mixing them will result in damage to the emasculators. NEVER USE VICE GRIPS

Serra and modified Serra Lay out your parts. Place pin in lower Place the second handle
emasculators. bottom handle. over the first aligning the
pin.

Place first crushing Place spacer/crushing Place first cutting blade Place second crushing
blade onto right side of blade onto left side of onto the left hand side of blade onto the right
emasculators. emasculators, the emasculators. hand side.
aligning pins with
outer holes.

Place the first threaded pin into apex of the Add the wing nut. Check that all parts are well
emasculators only until the threads catch. aligned and seated correctly. Begin tightening
Do not tighten until all pins are in place. the pins and wing nut a little at a time. Be
Place the second threaded pin into the left careful not to misalign the pins/nuts thus
hand side of the emasculators only until the stripping the threads and rendering the
threads catch. instrument useless. DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN.
You should be able to “flip” the instrument open
with one hand.

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 Surgical Instruments and Packs

Equine Hernia Pack

# Color 17 Instruments
1 ---- Scalpel Handle
4 ---- Towel Clamps
1 Red or Brown Needle Drivers
2 Blue & Black Thumb Forceps-Rat Tooth
1 Orange & Black Thumb Forceps-Brown Adsen
1 Red & White Scissors-Mayo
1 Green & Brown Scissors-Metzenbuam
6 Yellow & Black Curved Mosquito Hemostats
Additional Surgical Supplies
# Item
15 Gauze Pads
1 Drape
1 Autoclave Indicator Stripe

Equine Crypt Pack

# Color 17 Instruments
1 Scalpel Handle
4 Towel Clamps
1 Red or Brown Needle Drivers
1 Blue & Black Thumb Forceps-Rat Tooth
1 Orange & Black Thumb Forceps-Brown Adsen
1 Red & White Scissors-Mayo
4 Yellow & Black Curved Mosquito Hemostats
4 White Curved Carmalts (1 long)
Additional Surgical Supplies
# Item
15 Gauze Pads
1 Drape
1 Autoclave Indicator Stripe

Equine instruments for cold sterile use -- Yellow & Green

zz

Burdizzo Clamps, side and closed jaw view with

equine equipment) may be used on RAVS
equine trips for donkey castrations

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