Left lateral flank approach for spaying in cats

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Surgery
• Feline Medicine
• Reproductive Health

Background:

• Spaying (ovariohysterectomy) is a standard procedure for feline birth control.
• It effectively prevents reproductive diseases in cats.
• Surgical approaches aim for efficacy and minimal complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the suitability of the left lateral flank approach for routine feline spaying.
• To assess surgical outcomes and complications associated with this method.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-seven female cats (queens) aged 7-24 months were spayed using a left lateral flank laparotomy.
• Cats were divided into two groups: nulliparous (Group A) and previously calved (Group B).
• Key variables included surgical time, incision length, and postoperative complications.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in age, body weight, or vaccination history between groups.
• Group B (previously calved) showed longer mean incision length and total surgery duration.
• Postoperative complications occurred in 37.04% of cats, including wound infection, dehiscence, bleeding, and oozing, all successfully treated.

Conclusions:

• The left lateral flank approach is a viable and effective method for spaying cats.
• This technique can be performed without life-threatening complications.
• It serves as a reliable surgical option for managing feline reproduction.