
Your Custom Quiz
In García 2025 et al., on TIAS shunt confirmation, what was the outcome in dogs with microbubbles still visible after initial occlusion?
🔍 Key Findings
- 40 dogs with congenital EHPSS were surgically treated using intraoperative transsplenic injection of agitated saline (TIAS) to assess full temporary occlusion.
- TIAS was successful in 38/40 dogs; the remaining 2 had additional shunting vessels not originally seen and required further identification/ligation.
- No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred.
- TIAS allowed real-time confirmation of attenuation success using ultrasound-visible microbubbles.
- Median postoperative bile acids were 5 μmol/L (preprandial) and 25 μmol/L (postprandial).
- Long-term outcomes: 29/39 dogs had excellent, 10/39 had good outcomes; 3 dogs died unrelated to EHPSS.
- Technique is presented as a safe, quick, low-cost, accessible intraoperative assessment alternative to IOMP or SP.
Veterinary Surgery
2
2025
Use of intraoperative transsplenic injection of agitated saline to confirm temporary full attenuation of congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts in dogs
2025-2-VS-garcia-2
In Longo 2025 et al., on MITA, which of the following was *not* observed in any case?
🔍 Key Findings
- 15 dogs underwent minimally invasive tarsal arthrodesis (MITA); 10 partial, 5 pantarsal.
- Mean time to radiographic union: 1.8 ± 0.5 months.
- Mean time to clinical union: 3.7 ± 0.8 months.
- Complete osseous union: 46%; the rest achieved ≥50% with functional weightbearing.
- Complication rate: 26% major (mostly implant-related); no catastrophic complications or plantar necrosis.
- Functional outcomes: 6 full, 8 acceptable, 1 unacceptable (not due to MITA).
- MITA may lower soft tissue complications vs open approaches and enable faster healing.
Veterinary Surgery
1
2025
Minimally invasive tarsal arthrodesis in 15 dogs
2025-1-VS-longo-4
In Chen 2024 et al., on pressure-measurement tools, how much does the risk of poor outcome increase per 1 mm Hg rise in portal pressure during complete PSS occlusion?
🔍 Key Findings
- WMg (water manometer with gauge) was the most accurate and precise pressure measurement device.
- APT (arterial pressure transducer) was less accurate than WMg but still precise; it differed significantly from the gold standard (WMr).
- CCT (Compass CT) was the least accurate and precise and differed significantly from the set pressure.
- Mean differences from set pressure were smallest for WMg (−0.020 cm H2O), moderate for APT (−0.390 cm H2O), and largest for CCT (−1.267 cm H2O).
- All devices showed excellent interobserver (ICC = 1.000) and intraobserver agreement (ICC range 0.985–0.998).
- Even though the CCT performed least well, all devices had mean errors ≤1.3 cm H2O, indicating potential clinical utility.
- WMg or WMr should be preferred in surgical settings due to superior accuracy and precision.
- Measurement precision is more critical than accuracy during PSS surgery, as a 1 mm Hg (~1.3 cm H2O) increase in portal pressure raises odds of poor outcomes by 9%.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2024
Accuracy, precision, and interobserver and intraobserver agreements related to pressure-measurement devices
2024-4-VS-chen-5
In Adair 2023 et al., on PCCLm vs. open cystotomy, what factor was associated with an increased risk of residual uroliths postoperatively in both groups?
🔍 Key Findings
- PCCLm resulted in significantly fewer postoperative lower urinary tract signs compared to OC (13.0% vs 60.9%, p <.001).
- Incomplete urolith removal was not significantly different between PCCLm and OC (11.4% vs 20%, p = .112).
- PCCLm had significantly shorter anesthesia times than OC when no concurrent procedures were performed (97.5 vs 120 min, p < .001).
- Surgical site infection/inflammation (SSII) rates were low and not significantly different between groups (4.5% PCCLm vs 1.8% OC).
- Dogs undergoing PCCLm were more frequently discharged same-day (84.7% vs 0% in OC), reflecting faster recovery.
- PCCLm had higher intraoperative complication rates (22.1% vs 3.4%), mostly due to incision extension or conversions.
- Time to additional surgery for urolith recurrence was longer in PCCLm dogs (24 vs 11.5 months, p = .004).
- Calcium oxalate uroliths were more prevalent in PCCLm cases, while OC had more struvite or mixed types.
Veterinary Surgery
6
2023
Retrospective comparison of modified percutaneous cystolithotomy (PCCLm) and traditional open cystotomy (OC) in dogs: 218 cases (2010–2019)
2023-7-VS-adair-3
In Low 2025 et al., on gonadectomy and CrCLD, what was the quality of evidence rated using the GRADE framework?
🔍 Key Findings
Increased risk with gonadectomy:
- Pooled OR for CrCLD:
- Females: 2.29 (95% CI: 1.77–2.95)
- Males: 2.12 (95% CI: 1.67–2.69)
Early gonadectomy (≤1 year) further increased risk:
- OR vs >1 year:
- Females: 3.39
- Males: 3.13
Late gonadectomy (>1 year) had no significant difference vs intact dogs.
Breed-specific findings:
- Female Labradors: No increased CrCLD risk from gonadectomy (OR = 1.19; 95% CI: 0.54–2.64)
- Male Labradors: Increased risk persisted (OR = 2.13; 95% CI: 1.53–2.98)
Study type: Systematic review + meta-analysis of 24 observational studies (n = 1.85 million dogs)
Veterinary Surgery
2
2025
The association between gonadectomy and timing of gonadectomy, and the risk of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis
2025-2-VS-low-4
In Williams 2024 et al., on adrenaline use in maxillary nerve blocks, what was the observed reduction in median intraoperative hemorrhage in the adrenaline group compared to the no-adrenaline group?
🔍 Key Findings
- The addition of adrenaline (0.00198%) to bilateral maxillary nerve blocks significantly reduced intraoperative hemorrhage in dogs undergoing sharp staphylectomy (median reduction: 77.1%).
- Normalized hemorrhage (g/kg) and total hemorrhage (g) were significantly lower in the adrenaline group (p = .021 and p = .013, respectively).
- Surgeon-assessed hemorrhage scores were also significantly lower in the adrenaline group (median 2 vs. 3; p = .029), indicating improved surgical visibility.
- No adverse effects (e.g. tachycardia, arrhythmia, or hypertension) were observed with adrenaline administration.
- A standardized intraoral approach to the maxillary nerve block was used with 0.5 mL per side regardless of dog size.
- Breed effect observed: English Bulldogs had higher normalized hemorrhage, possibly due to anatomical variation or underdosing relative to size.
- Adrenaline may also prolong local anesthetic action and reduce blood aspiration risks, though this was not directly measured.
- The study supports the routine inclusion of adrenaline in maxillary nerve blocks for staphylectomy in BOAS patients to improve surgical field and reduce bleeding.
Veterinary Surgery
8
2024
Evaluation of the addition of adrenaline in a bilateral maxillary nerve block to reduce hemorrhage in dogs undergoing sharp staphylectomy for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome. A prospective, randomized study
2024-8-VS-williams-1
In Kershaw 2025 et al., on PSG vs AD, what was the most significant benefit of using a patient-specific guide (PSG) during transcondylar screw (TCS) placement in dogs?
🔍 Key Findings
- 3D-printed patient-specific guides (PSGs) significantly improved accuracy of drill hole entry (p < 0.001) and exit (p = 0.044) compared to commercial aiming devices (AD).
- Zero joint penetrations occurred with PSGs, whereas 3 of 7 AD-guided screws were predicted to penetrate the joint (p = 0.19).
- Variance in exit point and drill angle was significantly lower in PSG group, suggesting more consistent results.
- One PSG case failed due to improper guide seating, but this was corrected with improved soft tissue clearance.
- PSGs enabled safer trajectories despite use by novice surgeons, emphasizing their value in less experienced hands.
- Drill holes placed with ADs deviated more cranially and distally, increasing the risk of articular violation.
- Use of PSGs allowed for tighter clustering of drill trajectories, especially in the cranial–caudal axis.
- Subjective feedback favored PSGs for ease of use and ergonomic design, despite requiring slightly larger incisions.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology
5
2025
Patient-specific Guides Improve the Accuracy and Safety of Transcondylar Screw Placement—A Cadaveric Study in the Canine Humerus
2025-5-VCOT-kershaw-1
In Walker 2022 et al., on TPLO mRUST scoring, which of the following was associated with **lower** mRUST scores?
🔍 Key Findings
- TPLO mRUST scoring showed improved inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.56) compared to subjective evaluation (Kappa = 0.33).
- Intra-rater reliability was similar for both methods (TPLO mRUST: 0.73, subjective: 0.72).
- TPLO mRUST scores ≥10/12 strongly correlated with radiographic union, as subjectively assessed (99% agreement).
- No significant difference in healing between first and second TPLO sides (P = .09), countering assumptions about load-bearing impact.
- Higher initial lameness scores and younger age were associated with higher TPLO mRUST scores, suggesting more robust healing in those groups.
- Postoperative complications were linked to lower TPLO mRUST scores, indicating impaired healing.
- Medial cortex was excluded from scoring due to plate obstruction, validating use of only 3 cortices for scoring.
- The TPLO mRUST system may standardize healing assessment, reducing subjective bias across specialties.
Veterinary Surgery
8
2022
Evaluation of a modified radiographic union scale for tibial fractures scoring system in staged bilateral tibial plateau leveling osteotomy procedures and comparison of first and second side radiographic bone healing
2022-8-VS-walker-5
In Miller 2024 et al., on surgical comparison of staphylectomy vs. FFP, which airway abnormality was more common in FFP dogs?
🔍 Key Findings
- FFP resulted in longer median surgery (75 min) and anesthesia (111 min) durations than S (51 min and 80 min, respectively).
- No significant difference in anesthetic complications, regurgitation, aspiration pneumonia, or hospitalization time between S and FFP.
- Major complications were rare (4%) and equally distributed between procedures; included tracheostomy and euthanasia due to severe airway disease.
- Postoperative oxygen use was common (52% of dogs) but not significantly different between procedures.
- FFP dogs more often had laryngeal collapse (especially Grade 1: 68% vs. 32% in S dogs).
- Most dogs (85%) had concurrent nares surgery, with caudal wedge resection more frequent in FFP dogs.
- Few dogs needed revision soft palate surgery (7/124 total); similar between groups.
- Postoperative clinical signs improved across both procedures; regurgitation was the most persistent sign post-op.
Veterinary Surgery
8
2024
Complications and outcome following staphylectomy and folded flap palatoplasty in dogs with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome
2024-8-VS-miller-5
In Antonakakis 2022 et al., on telovelar tumor resection, how long did the dog remain neurologically normal after surgery?
🔍 Key Findings
- Telovelar approach enabled complete resection of a fourth ventricle choroid plexus tumor in a dog without postoperative complications.
- Postoperative MRI confirmed gross total tumor removal, and the dog remained neurologically normal 28 months post-surgery.
- The tela choroidea was used as a surgical landmark and incised to allow atraumatic access to the tumor.
- Cerebellum was spared using this technique, minimizing risk of cerebellar injury (e.g., cerebellar mutism).
- No hemorrhagic complications were noted during surgery due to dissection through avascular planes.
- Histopathology favored choroid plexus carcinoma based on mitotic index (9/10 HPFs), though definitive diagnosis remained pending.
- The case highlights the utility of telovelar over transvermian approach, given its minimally traumatic nature and improved exposure.
- Survival beyond 2 years without adjunctive therapy suggests surgical excision alone may be curative in select cases.
Veterinary Surgery
8
2022
Use of a telovelar approach for complete resection of a choroid plexus tumor in a dog
2022-8-VS-antonakakis-5
Quiz Results
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