What is cryosurgery?
Cryosurgery, also known as cryoablation, is a minimally invasive procedure that uses extreme cold (-150°C) to destroy abnormal tissue cells by freezing them. This causes the cells to die, triggering the body to naturally remove the dead tissue through sloughing and initiating the normal healing process.
The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia. Depending on the severity of the lesion, multiple cryosurgery sessions may be required. In some cases, however, one session may be curative. While cryosurgery is a highly useful and beneficial treatment, with relatively high success rates, its effectiveness largely depends on the type and extent of the lesion.
What is cryosurgery used for?
Cryosurgery is indicated for patients with various types of skin tumours and nasal tumours, particularly those located in difficult-to-access areas such as the ears or perianal region.
It can also be used to remove warts or other benign growths.
Additionally, it is the recommended option for patients who are at high risk for general anaesthesia – such as senior animals or those with compromised kidney or liver function – as it is generally quicker than the traditional surgical tumour removal.
What can you expect post-operatively?
The extreme cold provides temporary pain relief by numbing the sensory nerves in the treated area. As a result, only minimal pain management is usually needed. The procedure also kills bacteria in the tissue that comes into contact with the cryoprobe, which is especially beneficial in cases where the growth is already infected.
Post-operatively, while daily wound dressing is usually be required due to the necrotizing process of the targeted tissue. However, after approximately 2-6 weeks (depending on the nature of the growth), healing typically results in minimal scarring.
Middle left-right: day 5 and day 10 post-cryosurgery
Bottom left-right: day 18 post-cryosurgery and complete healing after 21 days
Currently, our Putra Heights branch offers cryosurgery services.
Please call for an appointment and consultation for more information.
Putra Heights Veterinary Clinic & Surgery
018-213 4037