The videolaparoscopic guided hepatic biopsy with tru-cut needle is described in 12 healthy, no defined breed, castrated male goats. Animals were distributed in two groups: G1 (n=5) 12-month-old animals; and G2 (n=7) six-month-old animals. The procedure was performed with the animal in left lateral recumbency and under total intravenous anesthesia. Pneumoperitoneum and laparoscopy were performed in the right flank, approximately 10cm ventral to the transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae. The tru-cut needle was inserted into the right eleventh intercostal space, around 12cm ventral to the spinal column, for punching and removal of a fragment from the right hepatic lobe. The average time spent in the surgical procedure was 23 minutes and five seconds. The hemorrhage caused by the liver biopsy ceased in two minutes (75%) and in three minutes in the other animals (25%). In the clinical evaluations performed during the pre-fasting period and 24, 48, and 72 hours after the biopsy procedure, neither group presented alterations (P>0.05) evaluated by rectal temperature; and cardiac, respiratory, and rumen frequencies. The videolaparoscopic guided hepatic biopsy with tru-cut needle was considered efficacious to be used in goats, providing hepatic tissue fragments suitable for histological examination.
goat; biopsy needle; liver; laparoscopy
