🔍 Key Findings

• The survey included 111 practicing surgeons and 28 residents from ACVS, ECVS, and ANZCVS. 98.2% had performed soft tissue minimally invasive surgery (MIS).
• In the past year, surgeons reported a median caseload of 90% basic laparoscopy, 0% advanced laparoscopy, and 10% thoracoscopy; for residents: 100% basic laparoscopy, 0% advanced, 0% thoracoscopy.
• Laparoscopic ovariectomy and OHE were the most commonly performed MIS procedures, with most respondents proficient in basic laparoscopy, but few performing advanced laparoscopy or thoracoscopy.
• Top barriers to MIS adoption were: lack of consistent caseload, lack of training, difficult learning curve, equipment limitations, and cost.
• 76.6% of surgeons and 92.9% of residents received MIS training during residency. Those trained had completed residency median 6 years ago, compared to 22 years ago for those without MIS training (p < .001). Perceived adequate training correlated with higher proficiency.
• MIS was recognized as having a steep learning curve, but patient benefits (mean score 4.0/5) were the top motivation — less pain, faster recovery, improved visualization.
• The authors conclude basic laparoscopy is widely adopted, but advanced and thoracoscopic MIS remain underutilized. Training and access are key to future growth.
• Expanded training and improved access to equipment are necessary to promote broader integration of MIS into veterinary soft-tissue surgery.

🔍 Key Findings

• 3D-printed, SOP plate-specific guides enabled safe screw placement from T12–L5 in canine cadavers and models.
• All 140 screw trajectories were classified as Zdichavski Grade 1, indicating optimal placement without vertebral canal breach.
• Screw angles (cranial-caudal and transverse) matched preoperative planning, with no significant deviation.
• Entry/exit point deviations were <1 mm on average, deemed clinically negligible.
• Drill guides were quick to place (<30 sec per vertebra) and improved ease of surgery.
• Plates acted as effective reduction tools, guiding alignment during screw placement in mobile spines.
• Minor technical challenges arose from cadaveric spine mobility, mitigated by sequential screw insertion.
• Technique may enable future use in fracture/luxation reduction, pending further cadaveric and clinical trials.

🔍 Key Findings

• LVSG was feasible in 9/10 feline cadavers with successful stapled gastrectomy and minimal technical complications.
• Stenosis at the incisura angularis occurred in 2/10 cadavers, associated with staple placement too close to the lesser curvature.
• Leak testing was negative in 8 cadavers and both live cats, indicating effective staple sealing.
• Mean stomach resection was ~28%, though less than human standards (~75–80%) for metabolic effects.
• Surgery was performed safely in two live feline subjects, with no intraoperative or postoperative complications over a 6-month follow-up.
• Technique refinements included orogastric tube placement and custom 3D-printed cannulas to improve staple line accuracy and avoid stenosis.
• Tri-Staple purple cartridges provided graduated compression suited for feline gastric tissue thickness (~2.5 mm).
• No need for staple line oversew in live cats; staple-only closure proved safe in this short-term study.

🔍 Key Findings

• Superior and inferior labial arteries in cats perfuse robust angiosomes, which support musculomucosal axial pattern flaps.
• Cadaver angiography confirmed vascular anatomy, with consistent patterns between sides and among specimens.
• The vascular supply is located primarily in the musculomucosal layer, not the skin, critical for flap viability.
• Flap harvest requires inclusion of the orbicularis oris (± buccinator) muscle to ensure vascular integrity and flap survival.
• Two clinical cases demonstrated successful use of superior and inferior labial musculomucosal flaps for palatal reconstruction with complete flap survival and resolution of clinical signs.
• Intraoperative transillumination aided vessel localization, facilitating surgical planning and flap design.
• No cases of distal flap necrosis or dehiscence occurred, although mild donor site morbidity (lip retraction, mucosal denuding) was noted.
• These flaps offer a valuable option when local tissues are compromised, especially after failed previous repairs or radiation therapy.

🔍 Key Findings

• Lymphaticovenous anastomosis (TD to AV) was successfully performed in all 8 feline cadavers using a microvascular anastomotic coupler (MAC).
• Anastomotic patency was confirmed intraoperatively and postoperatively in 7/8 cats via contrast lymphography or retrograde venography.
• Dissection and anastomosis took a median of 120 minutes, with minimal technical complications.
• A 1.5 mm MAC was used in 6 cats, and a 2.0 mm in 2 cats; TD diameter ranged 1.0–1.5 mm, AV up to 2.25 mm.
• Challenges included vessel twisting and luminal patency issues, resolved intraoperatively with minor adjustments (e.g., repeat pinning, tacking suture).
• MAC use eliminated need for hand-suturing, lowering skill demands but requiring precise alignment.
• Technique provides direct lymphatic-to-venous drainage, potentially reducing the stimulus for collateral vessel formation.
• May serve as a future treatment option for feline idiopathic chylothorax, warranting further in vivo studies.

🔍 Key Findings

• TPLO with the contoured saw guide achieved more accurate osteotomy angles for both inclination and torsion in bone models and cadaveric limbs (p < .05).
• Medial cortical damage was significantly lower with the contoured guide (247 vs. 1866 pixels in bone models; p < .001).
• No significant difference in eccentricity (distance between actual and intended osteotomy center) was found between groups.
• Postoperative tibial plateau angle (TPA) was similar between groups (6.4° vs. 7.6°; p = .15), though both were slightly higher than the target of 6°.
• Deviation in medial mechanical proximal tibial angle (mMPTA) showed no significant group difference; valgus deformity occurred in both.
• Osteotomy and device application times were similar between the contoured guide and jig-assisted TPLO.
• The contoured guide eliminated the need for proximal jig pin, potentially reducing intra-articular pin risk.
• The guide's multiple pin fixation system improved stability and alignment, supporting safer osteotomy on curved tibial surfaces.

🔍 Key Findings

Sample: 201 lymphadenectomies in 163 dogs.
Intraoperative techniques:

• Unassisted: 36%
• Methylene blue (MB): 24%
• Gamma probe + MB (γ-MB): 40%

Complication rate: 7.5% overall (93% uncomplicated)

• 80% were mild, 20% moderate; no severe complications
• Most common = seroma (2.5%), lymphoedema (1.5%)

Risk factors (via decision tree model):

• Surgical time > 21.5 min
• Lymph node site = mandibular or retropharyngeal

No significant difference in complication rate based on:

• Guidance technique (p = .255)
• LN palpability, number removed, or LN size

Clinical implication: Peripheral SLN excision is safe regardless of intraoperative technique; certain sites and durations carry slightly higher risk.

🔍 Key Findings

• Lower CTI values were significantly associated with higher risk of both intraoperative and postoperative femoral fractures or fissures (p <.0001).
• The mean CTI for all dogs was 0.285, whereas dogs with fissures/fractures had a mean CTI of 0.246.
• For each 0.001 increase in CTI, odds of fissure/fracture decreased by 2–3% depending on perioperative timing.
• High interobserver reliability (ICC = 0.984) and consistency between pre- and postoperative CTI measurements (ICC = 0.96).
• CTI was the only significant risk factor identified; age, breed, bodyweight, BCS, CFI, or luxoid hips were not significant.
• Prophylactic lateral plating in dogs with low CTI (mean 0.230) resulted in no postoperative fractures.
• Postoperative fractures occurred in 8% of cases, and 93% of dogs returned to full function within one year.
• CTI may be a useful radiographic screening tool, especially when advanced imaging (e.g., DEXA) is unavailable.

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• Used VMBDmD to quantify hip laxity under increasing force in cadaveric dogs (n=34).
• 90% of hips reached ≥90% of LImax at 95.32 N, defining this force as sufficient for subluxation.
• LImax was not significantly influenced by osteoarthritis, weight, sex, or limb side.
• Position of device (lever length) influenced rate of laxity acquisition, not final LImax.
• LI curves were repeatable across 5 sessions, indicating elastic—not plastic—deformation.

🔍 Key Findings

• Left fourth intercostal thoracotomy allowed successful thoracic duct (TD) ligation in 9/10 canine cadavers.
• 10/13 clinical cases had a single TD branch at the left fourth intercostal space, indicating lower anatomical complexity.
• All TD branches at this site were lateral to the esophagus, simplifying surgical access.
• Unilateral subphrenic pericardiectomy was successfully performed via the same incision in 10/10 cadavers.
• Fewer TD branches at the fourth intercostal space than traditional caudal sites may reduce the risk of missed collaterals.
• In contrast, traditional caudal TD ligation sites had up to 5 branches, requiring broader dissection.
• No cadaver had right-sided TD branches, reducing surgical complexity at the studied location.
• Contrast-confirmed ligation was effective in 90% (9/10) cadavers on CT imaging.