Historical review spotlights rise of equine minimally invasive surgery

Minimally invasive equine soft tissue surgery is getting a fresh look in a new 2026 Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association review, which traces how historical developments in laparoscopy and related techniques helped shape current equine practice. The paper says demand for these procedures has grown alongside expanded training pathways under the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, and highlights familiar advantages for horses and clinicians: less exposure to the risks and cost of general anesthesia, better visualization than many open approaches, and faster return to function or performance. The review also places today’s techniques in a longer arc, noting that the roots of endoscopic surgery stretch back centuries, while equine laparoscopy has evolved rapidly since first reports in the 1970s. (eurekamag.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the article is less about a single new procedure than about where the field is heading. ACVS now maintains fellowship training in minimally invasive surgery, including large animal soft tissue, underscoring that these techniques are becoming more formalized within specialty training. In practice, standing laparoscopic approaches can help reduce anesthetic risk, improve access and visualization for selected procedures, and shorten convalescence, though referral centers also stress that laparoscopy is not a replacement for every abdominal surgery, including many colic cases. (acvs.org)

What to watch: Expect continued growth in training, instrumentation, and procedure selection as equine surgeons refine where minimally invasive approaches offer the clearest welfare and recovery benefits. (acvs.org)