Surgical Description of Laparoscopic Ovum Pick-Up in Buffalo Calves.

The technique of laparoscopic oocyte aspiration has been increasingly used in animals; however, there are few records of its use in buffaloes. To describe this technique, six suckling Murrah buffaloes aged between 3 and 5 months were used. Three laparoscopic ovum pick-ups were performed in each animal, with intervals of 15 days between surgeries, completing a total of 18 procedures. The technique used three surgical ports with optics and a high-definition video camera. The introduction of the first portal and insufflation of the abdomen was performed through the open technique, with aspiration using a 20 G needle transabdominally and a vacuum pump calibrated at 50 mmHg. The mean complete surgical time from anesthesia to the removal of the animal from the litter was 49 ± 9.8 min. There were 27.8% cases of insufflation on the wrong side of the omentum. The oocyte recovery rate of 60.3% remained within the normal range. However, the rate of viable oocytes recovered was low, with only 40.8% of those recovered undergoing in vitro embryo production (IVEP). These data demonstrate that this simple, minimally invasive technique is an excellent reproductive tool for the genetic improvement of buffalo species.

Topographic laparoscopy for buffaloes in the quadruped position.

This study aimed to describe the anatomical topography of the abdominal cavity of buffaloes in the quadruped position to establish the best endosurgical access and vantage points and identify possible limitations. Laparoscopies were performed on 10 healthy female buffaloes obtained from the Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia to explore possible access points to the abdomen. Techniques for assessing and possibly observing certain organs and structures through the left and right flanks of 10 animals have been described. In five animals, access was created through the right side of the last intercostal space to allow more cranial access to the abdominal cavity. Despite the presence of the rumen, access through the left flank allowed the visualization of the structures of the gastrointestinal tract and the genitourinary system. With access through the right flank, however, imaging was hampered by the presence of the greater omentum and its deep and superficial walls, which prevented the progression of the endoscope. Access through the last right intercostal space allowed the visualization of the cranial structures of the abdominal cavity, such as the caudate process, right lobe of the liver, right kidney, and pancreas. Laparoscopic access through the left flank and the last intercostal space in healthy buffaloes in the quadruped position is feasible, and it is promising for the exploration, diagnosis, and treatment of various disorders in buffaloes.