Wound healing complications following folded flap palatoplasty in brachycephalic dogs
Teng Xiang Khoo and others, Centre for Animal Referral and Emergency, Collingwood, Victoria
Folded flap palatoplasty is a procedure that intends to thin and shorten the soft palate to improve respiratory function in brachycephalic dogs. The authors describe the incidence and characteristics of wound healing complications in 25 dogs that underwent the procedure as a component of multilevel surgery for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome. These problems occurred in nine dogs (36 percent) after a median of 36 days post-operatively, consisting of either incisional dehiscence with caudal retraction of the soft palate mucosa or the development of a full-thickness defect in the centre of the soft palate. Revision surgery was carried out in five cases and failed again in one dog with incisional dehiscence.
Australian Veterinary Journal, 100, 571-578
Influence of superficial inflammation on the recurrence of equine sarcoids after surgery
Ben Curnow and others, University of Liverpool, England
Sarcoids are the most common equine neoplasm submitted for histopathological analysis. The condition is difficult to treat effectively, and the recurrence rates in studies range from 20 to 80 percent. The authors carried out histopathological examinations of 106 equine sarcoids from 64 horses to identify factors associated with recurrence. There was a recurrence of lesions at the surgical site in 30 horses (46.9 percent) and at a distant site in 21 horses (32.8 percent). Superficial inflammation was associated with significantly reduced odds of recurrence at the original surgical site, suggesting a possible protective role for the inflammatory process in preventing sarcoid recurrence.
The Veterinary Journal, 292, 105953
Relationships between tumour location and outcomes in dogs with liver masses
Vaughan Moore and others, Small Animal Specialist Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales
Surgical resection via liver lobectomy is the current treatment recommendation for the management of single masses in the canine liver. The authors gathered data from 124 cases to investigate whether the locations of the lesions were associated with short-term clinical outcomes. Liver masses were more common in the left division than in the central or right divisions. Post-operative complications were more likely if the surgical incision extended to the thorax, which was more common during the resection of right divisional masses. Complications were less likely when surgery was performed with a thoracoabdominal stapler, by a specialist surgeon or in heavier dogs.
Veterinary Surgery, 52, 513-520
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy using the subserosal layer dissection technique
Motoki Kondo and others, Apple Tree Animal Hospital, Aichi, Japan
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been successfully used to treat uncomplicated cases of gallbladder disease in dogs. But overall, the incidence of complications or of surgeons needing to switch to open methods is higher than in human patients. The authors examined the outcomes when using a standardised subserosal layer dissection technique in treating cholecystolithiasis, cholecystitis or gall bladder mucocele in 34 dogs. Dissection of more than 90 percent of the gall bladder bed was achieved in 27 cases. Conversion to open surgery was required in three dogs, but there were no cases of intraoperative bleeding, bile duct injury or the need for follow-up surgery.
Journal of Small Animal Practice, 64, 288-295
Novel two-loop method for tie-back procedures in horses with laryngeal neuropathy
David Wilson and others, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
Recurrent laryngeal neuropathy is a condition that results in turbulent airflow, respiratory stridor and exercise intolerance in Thoroughbreds. The conventional surgical treatment involves the placement of a suture prosthesis to maintain abduction, mimicking the action of the cricoarytenoideus dorsalis muscle during inspiration. The authors compare the effectiveness of a novel two-loop suture technique with the standard two-interrupted suture technique in maintaining abduction in equine larynges collected post-mortem from an abattoir. They found that the mean force required to produce a failure of these constructs was not significantly different between the two treatment groups.
American Journal of Veterinary Research, 84, 1-7
Outcomes following surgical excision of large soft tissue sarcomas in dogs
Ally Davis and Giselle Hosgood, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia
Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) form a heterogenous group of tumours with differing histological characteristics but similar biological behaviour. Large sarcomas in dogs can be difficult to excise effectively, and such patients may be dismissed as inappropriate candidates for surgery. The authors reviewed the clinical records of 39 dogs with large, low- to intermediate-grade STSs treated surgically. Complete or close histological margins were achieved in 23 cases. In each case, closure of all surgical sites was possible either directly or with flap reconstruction. Long-term follow-up demonstrated good post-operative function although local recurrence was identified in two cases.
Australian Veterinary Journal, 101, 193-199
Clinical findings and treatment of chronic axillary wounds in cats
Rodrigo Domingues Paulino and John Williams, Vets Now, Manchester, England
Axillary wounds mainly occur in outdoor cats wearing a collar and are usually seen when the cat returns after being missing for a long period. Lesions caused by entrapment of a thoracic limb in the collar are often chronic and non-healing due to the presence of foreign material in the wounds and a poor local blood supply. The authors describe the likely clinical findings in such cases and propose a strategy for their management. After a thorough cleaning of the wound, bacteriological sampling is necessary to institute appropriate antibiotic therapy. Primary wound closure using an elbow skin fold should be considered as the first approach. When this is not possible, the authors suggest a combination of omentalisation and a thoracodorsal axial pattern flap.
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 25
Laparascopic ovariectomy in two queens with uterine unicornis
Deanna Puchalski and Adam Ogilvie, Atlantic Veterinary College, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Uterine unicornis is a congenital abnormality resulting in the agenesis of one uterine horn but with normal development of the associated ovarian tissue. The authors describe two cases in unrelated cats showing persistent signs of oestrus despite having an earlier ovariohysterectomy. The continued presence of ovarian tissue was indicated by anti-Mullerian hormone test results. Ultrasonography provided confirmation of unilateral abnormal structures in the ovarian region and ipsilateral absence of the kidney. A laparoscopic surgical procedure was carried out to remove the ovarian remnant, and there were no further signs of oestrus.
