Minimally invasive laparoscopic methods of biopsy in small animal practice

Abstract

Laparoscopic surgery has benefitted from many technical advances, achieving better results and reduced complications in comparison to conventional surgical techniques. Specialist equipment has been developed to better aid the minimally invasive approach, allowing for more precision, becoming a method of choice for biopsy. It is of particular value in patients where the sites are small or present in locations unsuitable for image-guided biopsy, or where adequate tissue cannot be obtained by image-guided biopsy. Laparoscopy has been proven to offer several benefits to the patient both intraoperatively and postoperatively, therefore, it can be said that laparoscopy provides a safe and effective means of obtaining biopsies in small animal practice.