Virtual reality training method for canine laparoscopic ovariectomy
Jennie Redander and others, Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark
Laparoscopic ovariectomy has advantages over conventional abdominal procedures in terms of patient comfort and safety. However, the technique requires very different psychomotor skills from open surgery. Simulation-based training can enable an inexperienced surgeon to develop those skills without risking harm to a patient. The authors describe the development of the LapSim virtual reality simulator to support surgical training. The technology allows the surgeon to interact with representations of each of the organs and tissues that would be encountered during a procedure on a live animal, including haemorrhage. This preliminary study confirmed its value in helping develop key laparoscopy skills such as depth perception, hand–eye coordination, bimanual dexterity and adaptation to the fulcrum effect (the inverted and scaled movement of surgical instruments at the incision point).
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 67
Study of different methods for enlarging stenotic nares in brachycephalic dogs
Kiyoko Shimura and others, Peninsula Veterinary Hospital, Mornington, Victoria
Stenosis of the nares is one of the main features of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). There are a number of techniques described for surgically improving airflow through the muzzle of affected dogs. The authors used computed tomography scans to assess the effects of vestibuloplasty in combination with Trader’s technique or vertical wedge resection rhinoplasty on airflow through the external nares and nasal vestibule in nine dogs. Surgery increased the cross-sectional area of the airways in both treatment groups. There was no evidence of recurrent stenosis or collapse of the alar wings during a follow-up period of up to eight months. Larger prospective studies are required to assess the effects of these methods on respiratory function in comparison with other rhinoplasty techniques.
Australian Veterinary Journal, 103, 199-205
Outcomes of canine mitral valve repair using a multidisciplinary approach
Daniel Brockman and others, Royal Veterinary College, Potters Bar
Myxomatous mitral valve disease is the most common cardiac condition in dogs and if untreated it will usually lead to left-sided heart failure. Surgical treatment by teams of highly trained clinicians can produce excellent results, but it may be difficult to assess the extent of the initial training required and what further effort may be needed to maintain those clinical skills. The authors describe the development of a mitral valve repair programme at a university hospital and the changes in short-term outcomes over time. This involved a structured multidisciplinary approach to patient selection, surgical treatment and post-operative care from the same group of staff. Examination of the findings from the first 132 cases seen at the centre showed a significant improvement in clinical results over time, resulting from the fine-tuning of both technical and non-technical skills throughout the team.
Veterinary Surgery, 54, 675-685
Cystoscopy-assisted urolith removal via a perineal urethrostomy stoma in cats
Reanna Cantrall and others, Michigan State University, East Lansing
Urolithiasis is the second most common form of feline lower urinary tract disease after idiopathic cystitis. It accounts for about 20 percent of cases and the problem will often recur after initial treatment. The authors describe the application of a novel method – cystoscopy-assisted urolith retrieval via a perineal urethrostomy stoma (CUPU) – as a minimally invasive alternative to standard methods involving incisions through the abdominal wall and into the urinary bladder. The authors carried out experimental procedures on male feline cadavers before applying the technique in two client-owned animals with urethral obstruction. Their findings suggest that CUPU is a feasible procedure with the potential to obviate the need for major abdominal surgery in feline patients with urolithiasis and urethral obstruction.
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 27
Diagnosis and management of gallbladder mucocoele formation in dogs
Jody Gookin and others, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
Gallbladder mucocoele formation is a recently recognised condition in which abnormally thick, immobile and rubbery mucus is secreted by the gallbladder epithelium. The authors review our current understanding of what they describe as an “enigmatic and deadly” disease in dogs. Reports have most commonly described the condition occurring in older, smaller-sized purebred dogs. Patients often have evidence of concurrent conditions such as hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism, hyperlipidaemia and proteinuria. Diagnosis relies on ultrasonography to reveal the presence of non-gravity-dependent mucus adherent to the gallbladder walls and encroaching on the lumen. Treatment involves cholecystectomy, which carries a significant mortality risk, but a good long-term prognosis.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 263, 777-785
Surgical treatment of gastric dilatation and volvulus in a pet rat
Harriet Woodhall and others, Holly House Veterinary Hospital, Leeds
Gastric dilatation and volvulus is a common finding in dogs and has been reported in other small animal species such as guinea pigs and rabbits, but not previously in rats (Rattus norvegicus). The authors report a case in a seven-month-old neutered male pet rat which presented with acute onset anorexia, lethargy and regurgitation. It was given a general anaesthetic and the radiographic and ultrasound findings showed severe gastric dilatation. A laparotomy revealed a 180° clockwise rotation of its stomach. This organ was returned to its normal position, and a gastrotomy was carried out to remove bedding material that the patient had been seen to swallow. The patient was discharged the following day and was healthy at the nine-month follow-up.
Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine, 51, 9-12
Metastatic apocrine sweat gland adenocarcinoma treatment in a cat
Pedro Pimental and others, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil
Apocrine sweat gland tumours are rare lesions in cats that require aggressive surgical treatment due to their malignancy and local invasiveness. However, these neoplasms will often appear in sites where wide surgical margins are not possible, and so adjuvant therapies may be necessary to treat residual disease. The authors describe a case of an 11-year-old neutered male mixed-breed cat with an apocrine carcinoma in the rostral mandibular region that had been surgically treated two months earlier. The lesion was treated multimodally with further surgery, electrochemotherapy, a selective COX-2 inhibitor and systemic chlorambucil. It later received carboplatin to treat a metastatic lymph node. The cat was disease-free at 528 days post-treatment and survived to 707 days.
Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, 63, 100921
Fluoroscopic balloon dilation of nasopharyngeal stenosis in a rabbit
Imal Khelik and Nicola Di Girolamo, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater
Nasopharyngeal stenosis is a common condition in cats and has been recorded in guinea pigs, but there are no previous reports in rabbits. The authors describe a case of a four-year-old Dutch rabbit that presented with chronic upper respiratory tract disease. Nasal swabs produced a culture of Pasteurella multocida. Fluoroscopy and pharyngoscopy revealed nasopharyngeal stenosis and epiglottic displacement. The patient received antimicrobial therapy and three fluoroscopic balloon dilation procedures. The clinical signs improved during treatment, and the epiglottic displacement was resolved by the completion of the third procedure. Although rare, nasopharyngeal stenosis should be included as a differential diagnosis in rabbits with upper respiratory signs.
