Standing laparoscopic urinary bladder rupture repair using barbed sutures in a recently castrated horse

Summary A recently castrated 4‐year‐old Selle Français gelding was presented for evaluation of renal failure. Abdominal and transrectal ultrasonography revealed a large volume of anechoic free fluid in the peritoneal cavity, with a high creatinine concentration and a tear at the cranial pole of the bladder. Medical management was initiated for 2 days, followed by a standing laparoscopy to close the bladder wall defect using barbed sutures. The barbed sutures facilitated the procedure and reduced operative time, with no complications related to the suture technique. After a transient acute renal injury, the horse recovered and was discharged from the hospital 13 days postoperatively. To our knowledge, this case represents the first report of in vivo surgery using barbed sutures on an equine bladder.