Unilateral nephrectomy is a critical procedure for cattle with severe or unresolving upper urinary tract disease, including pyelonephritis, polycystic kidney disease, and ectopic ureter. Open nephrectomy requires extensive tissue dissection, sometimes including rib resection, to access the renal hilus and isolate the kidney. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques show potential to overcome challenges of open surgery by improving surgical field exposure and reducing postoperative morbidity.

This study compares the feasibility of endoscopic unilateral nephrectomy in pre-ruminant calf cadavers to open nephrectomy, focusing on operative duration and procedural difficulty. Objectives also include measurement of renal hilar components and assessment of ligation technique.