Pioneering Surgery to Reduce Cost of Infertile Mares
07-Sep-2011
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Mare infertility and the annual cost of such mare’s upkeep is a heavy price paid by all commercial thoroughbred breeders. |
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Dr Angus Adkins from Scone Equine Hospital hopes to introduce a surgical technique in Scone that will substantially reduce the number of mares who cannot carry a foal to full term due to the presence of chronic infections and/or fluid retention in the uterus [see image - left].
The procedure is known as Laparoscopic Uteropexy.
Normal mares have a uterus that is positioned horizontal to or just below the cervix. A mare suitable for the surgery will typically present with a case history of sub-fertility caused by a uterus that, as a result of previous pregnancies, does not lie in a normal horizontal position which allows the free flow of uterine contents into the vagina. As a result the mare develops chronic infections and fluid retention.
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The aim of the surgical technique is to return the sub-fertile mare’s uterus to the correct orientation thereby allowing successful uterine clearance, greater uterine health, and for most mares, the restoration of fertility.
The surgical procedure was pioneered by Swedish Surgeon Dr Palle Brink. It is performed via a laparoscope inserted into the abdominal cavity via the flank. The mare’s uterus is sutured to the top of abdominal wall. The repositioning of the uterus allows gravity to then effectively clear fluid from the uterus. |
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The procedure, performed in custom built stocks at the ICU Unit at Clovelly [see image - left], is minimally invasive. There is no risk to the mare from general anaesthesia. The mare stands throughout surgery, is back in the paddock the next day, and can be served 4 weeks after the surgery.
“The surgery is technically difficult but once the surgery is performed the risks are low,” says Dr Adkins. “Dr Brink has been developing the procedure for the past 2 to 3 years and we sat back to observe his results before we decided to go ahead with it. Brink has now operated on a dozen mares with a good success rate and without major complications. |
"Of the 12 horses Palle has performed the procedure on, 8 have been served and 6 have had foals. 1 mare has had 2 foals. All these mares had not carried a foal to term for a number of years and none had complications at foaling.”
Scone Equine Hospital will host Dr Palle Brink at Clovelly during October, the eminent surgeon travelling to Australia to work with Angus and his team to introduce the groundbreaking surgery and provide insights into the tricks of the technique.
“Palle’s results are certainly exciting,” says Adkins. “His surgical technique provides a nice option for mares that can often disappoint with their fertility. Palle is the best guy to train us and we will start with 4 horses – a couple of whom have already been identified.”
Adkins says that infertility and the high cost of maintaining a dry mare makes the cost of surgery a far more economic alternative to mare owners and he would encourage any breeder or stud owner interested in the study to contact him at angus.adkins@sconeequine.com.au
See also P. BRINK et al “Elevating the uterus (uteropexy) of five mares by laparoscopically imbricating the mesometrium” Equine Vet. J. (2010) 42 (8) 675-679
