A laparoscopic spay is one in which a surgeon uses a camera (laparoscope) and long handled instruments placed through small incisions to perform the procedure. This type of surgery is also referred to as “minimally invasive surgery.”
Laparoscopic spay may be performed in reproductively intact patients undergoing elective spay. This procedure is rarely used to treat animals who have an infection of the uterus (pyometra). If the tissue is healthy, an ovariectomy (removal of the ovaries alone) or ovariohysterectomy (removal of uterus and ovaries) may be performed, depending on surgeon recommendation and client preference.
Laparoscopic spay has been associated with decreased pain and faster recovery from surgery. It may also result in fewer complications with the surgical wound such as inflammation or infection. Laparoscopic spay generally results in better visualization of the tissue and abdominal cavity.
Disadvantages of laparoscopic spay compared to traditional surgery include the need for specialized instruments and surgeon training.