Surgery

We think that our hospital's surgery may be the busiest equine surgery in Australia. We perform around 1000 surgeries each year under general anaesthesia. This doesn't count the number of surgeries that are performed standing -such as many of the reproduction surgeries. More on Arthroscopy? Or perhaps Fracture Repair? Many surgeries occur as a result of  findings from lameness exams.

Our fully equipped surgical facilities are specially designed to optimise the care of horses requiring surgery. We have two induction/recovery rooms with special padding, soundproofing and soft lighting. There are two well equipped surgeries and even a newer facility in Euroa. We monitor all horses via a closed circuit TV with sound. If something looks amiss we can be in there in a flash to work it out.

Prior to any routine anaesthetic, horses are carefully examined. After an initial anaesthetic is administered the horses are transferred to the surgery suite that is air-conditioned. Patients can be then placed on a automatic ventilator and monitored for changes in blood gases, electrocardiogram and blood pressure. We have a team of dedicated and trained veterinarians that watch over all our anaesthetics.

Once the horses are in the proper 'depth of anaesthesia the surgeons take over. Don't get in their road as they all have the motto 'a chance to cut is a chance to cure'. Jim Vasey is on of the partners and the oldest surgeon. He is supported on a day to day basis by Tom Russell. Tom just passed the highest level European examinations for surgery (European College of Veterinary Surgery- ECVS). Well done Tom. Complimenting them is Angus who does most of the reproductive surgeries. 
The surgery department has a program of residencies. The first to complete this program of three years is Robyn Charman. Robyn and her husband Neal had a veterinary practice in Kooweerup (Gippsland) before coming up here. Next to enter is Sarah Jalim. This is Sarah's third  year. It is hoped that Max Hall and Hadley Willsallen will follow those two in the near future.

After surgery the horses are closely monitored for a few days and then allowed to convalesce at home.

We think that one of the most important aspects of surgery is the follow up. We want clients to call and let us know how everything is going along. This is important in both the short and long term. 

Not all surgery is done under general anaesthetic.  The most common procedures performed standing are many of the reproductive surgeries. These are done standing because the anatomy is not as disturbed as it would be with the horse lying down. Standing surgeries present a unique challenge, as the patient can move and even kick if annoyed. To prevent this they are commonly tranquillised. Another type of surgery we do standing is 'laser surgery' of the upper respiratory tract (seen here at left) wherein the laser is directed down an endoscope to the problem. 

We have taken the time to follow up a selected group of relatively common surgeries. Have a look at our findings, they are very interesting and you never know when you may have the same problems in your own horses.