
Your Custom Quiz
In Dickerson 2023 et al., on surgical outcomes in hepatic abscessation, what was the median survival time for dogs discharged from the hospital?
🔍 Key Findings
- Liver lobectomy was the most common treatment (27/36 dogs), with multiple lobes removed in ~1/3 of cases.
- Septic peritonitis was present in 21/23 sampled dogs, making it a frequent complication.
- Perioperative complications occurred in 21/36 dogs, including aspiration pneumonia, pancreatitis, and acute kidney injury.
- Intraoperative hypotension was common (32/36), often requiring vasopressors or colloids.
- Mortality prior to discharge was 21% (8/38), with deaths related to sepsis, aspiration pneumonia, and multi-organ dysfunction.
- Median survival time was 638 days in dogs surviving to discharge.
- No recurrence of hepatic abscessation was observed in the surviving population.
- E. coli and Clostridium spp. were the most commonly cultured organisms, often as single-agent infections.
Veterinary Surgery
1
2023
Outcome in 38 dogs surgically treated for hepatic abscessation
2023-1-VS-dickerson-4
In Kuvaldina 2023 et al., on axillary lymph node excision, which complication was NOT observed in any of the clinical cases following axillary lymphadenectomy?
🔍 Key Findings
- Endoscopic excisional biopsy of axillary lymph nodes was successfully performed in cadavers and clinical dogs with minimal complications.
- The technique used a SILS port and CO₂ insufflation through a small incision between the latissimus dorsi and superficial pectorals.
- In 4 cadavers (6 limbs), mean time to remove axillary nodes was 33 minutes, and single nodes were found in 5/6 limbs.
- In 3 clinical dogs, the procedure was successful in 2 cases; 1 required conversion to open surgery due to difficulty manipulating the node.
- Accessory axillary nodes were successfully excised when present, located adherent to deep latissimus dorsi.
- No cases developed lymphedema, pneumothorax, or major complications postoperatively.
- Subjective benefits included better visualization, reduced dissection, and less postoperative morbidity than open techniques.
- Study suggests MIS lymphadenectomy may improve staging accuracy and reduce complications, though larger studies are needed.
Veterinary Surgery
6
2023
Development of a minimally invasive endoscopic technique for excisional biopsy of the axillary lymph nodes in dogs
2023-6-VS-kuvaldina-3
In Scott 2025 et al., on acetabular cup revision, what was the most common indication for revision surgery?
🔍 Key Findings
Population: 9 dogs underwent revision of osteointegrated acetabular cups after total hip arthroplasty (THA)
Revision Indications:
- 7 luxations (5 ventral, 2 craniodorsal)
- 1 femoral stem fracture
- 1 aseptic stem loosening
Implants:
- 8 BFX cups, 1 Helica; all revised to BFX
- 7/9 required a larger cup than original
Cup removal: Required sectioning with a high-speed burr and modular osteotome; removal fragments extracted
Complications:
- 1 recurrent luxation
- 1 low-grade infection with possible metallic debris-associated osteolysis
- 2 femoral fissures managed intraoperatively
Outcomes:
- Good to excellent function in 6/6 dogs available at median 621 days
- Minimal complications with success in re-osteointegration of new cup
Clinical takeaway: Revision of stable, ingrown cups is feasible and offers an alternative to pelvic osteotomies; typically requires upsizing
Veterinary Surgery
3
2025
Revision of osteointegrated acetabular cup prostheses in nine dogs
2025-3-VS-scott-1
In Philips 2025 et al., on radiographic IAIP detection, what was the overall accuracy of radiography to detect intra-articular implant penetration (IAIP) in the canine stifle?
🔍 Key Findings
Overall accuracy of radiography to detect IAIP: 77.9%
Sensitivity: 97.2%
Specificity: 67.6%
False positive rate: 32.4% of non-penetrating implants were misclassified as penetrating
Implants directed toward the lateral tibial condyle had higher misclassification (23.8%) than medial (8.3%)
Most accurate detection: Implants placed 2 mm into the joint (97.2% correct classification)
Least agreement: For implants placed at 0 mm (subchondral level), especially lateral (AC1 = 0.48)
No palpable abnormalities (e.g., crepitus) observed during ROM for any group
No significant difference in detection by specialty field or reviewer qualification
Suggests radiographic misclassification risk and supports considering CT/fluoroscopy in equivocal cases
Veterinary Surgery
3
2025
Detection of intra‐articular implant penetration of the canine stifle with radiography: A cadaveric study
2025-3-VS-philips-1
In Parker 2023 et al., on Locoregional analgesia in TPLO, what was the most commonly preferred locoregional anesthesia technique among anesthesiologists for dogs undergoing TPLO?
🔍 Key Findings
- Peripheral nerve block (PNB) was preferred by 79% of anesthesiologists; lumbosacral epidural (LE) by 21%; PI <1%.
- Time since board-certification significantly influenced preference: PNB favored by newer diplomates, LE favored by more senior ones (p < .001).
- Employment sector mattered: PNB was preferred more in private practice, LE more in academia (p = .003).
- PNB perceived as more effective, with 78% reporting 81–100% effectiveness; compared to 55% for LE.
- PNB associated with fewer adverse effects (75%) than LE (4%) and PI (21%).
- PNB required less rescue analgesia intraoperatively (57%) and postoperatively (54%) than LE or PI.
- LE preferred for bilateral TPLOs and in smaller dogs; PNB for larger dogs, due to motor function preservation.
- Dexmedetomidine was the most common additive to PNB; bupivacaine-only was most used for PNB.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2023
Pelvic limb anesthesia and analgesia in dogs undergoing tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO): A survey of board-certified anesthesiologists
2023-4-VS-parker-1
In Cherzan 2023 et al., on subcutaneous mast cell tumors, what was the median disease-free interval (DFI) for dogs with lymph node metastasis from subcutaneous mast cell tumors?
🔍 Key Findings
- Local recurrence occurred in 17.8% of dogs, and was associated with significantly decreased survival (551 vs 1722 days, p = .0038).
- Lymph node metastasis occurred in 26.7% of dogs and was significantly associated with shorter disease-free interval (194 vs not reached, p = .0012) and lower survival (551 vs 1722 days, p = .043).
- Mitotic index >7 was significantly associated with higher recurrence (80% vs 22.5%, p = .02), shorter DFI (139 vs not reached days, p < .001), and shorter survival (247 vs 1722 days, p = .05).
- Infiltrative growth pattern was associated with shorter DFI (268 vs 1864 days, p = .011), but not with survival or recurrence.
- Incomplete margins (≤1 mm) were not significantly associated with recurrence (p = .085), but did correlate with shorter DFI (p = .043).
- Chemotherapy or radiation therapy was associated with shorter DFI and survival, likely due to selection bias for more aggressive disease.
- Tumor size >3 cm was associated with decreased survival (p = .031), but not with recurrence or DFI.
- Multinucleation and necrosis were not associated with prognosis outcomes.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2023
Factors affecting prognosis in canine subcutaneous mast cell tumors: 45 cases
2023-4-VS-cherzan-2
In Wood 2024 et al., on knot security and locking throws, how did the failure mode differ between locking and non-locking constructs?
🔍 Key Findings
- Adding a single locking throw significantly increased holding security for specific knots, including the surgeon's throw (p = .0001) and square throw (p = .0002).
- For the Miller's throw (p = .166) and strangle throw (p = .808), no significant improvement was observed with a locking throw.
- After locking throw addition, all five knots leaked at similar pressures (p = .5233), and these pressures exceeded physiologic arterial pressures.
- Surgeon's throw without a locking throw had the lowest leak pressure (62.5 ± 46.2 mm Hg), below physiologic arterial values.
- The square throw without locking also leaked below physiologic pressures (148.7 ± 109.4 mm Hg), though it outperformed the surgeon's throw.
- Miller’s and strangle throws performed significantly better than square or surgeon’s throws without locking, achieving leak pressures >200 mm Hg.
- All knots used 2-0 polyglyconate monofilament (Maxon); no comparisons across suture types or sizes were performed.
- Authors concluded that correct tensioning and locking throw addition are key to safe vascular ligation. Miller’s, strangle, or slip knots are preferred for challenging surgical fields.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2024
Influence of a single locking throw on the in vitro holding security of five friction knots using two monofilament suture materials in a canine model
2024-4-VS-wood-2
In Farrell 2022 et al., on checklist reliability in OVH simulation, what was the main benefit of using digital recordings for student performance assessment?
🔍 Key Findings
- 39 of 40 checklist items for simulated OVH surgical assessment had good content validity (CVI = 0.81)
- Only 1 of 6 items from the OSATS GRS (respect for tissue) met inclusion criteria (CVI = 0.80)
- Checklist showed strong reliability (G-coefficient = 0.85) for moderate-stakes exams
- Modified OSATS GRS showed acceptable reliability (G-coefficient = 0.79)
- Two raters needed for acceptable reliability in high-stakes exams when using the checklist
- Minimal interrater bias found; variance largely due to interaction among student, rater, and item
- Digital recordings were a reliable method of evaluating surgical performance
- Study supports using checklist over OSATS GRS for assessing preclinical students on simulated models
Veterinary Surgery
5
2022
Evaluating validity evidence for 2 instruments developed to assess students' surgical skills in a simulated environment
2022-5-VS-farrell-5
In Nash 2024 et al., on esophageal pH monitoring, what was the defined upper reference limit for distal GER events per hour in healthy nonbrachycephalic dogs?
🔍 Key Findings
- Esophageal pH-monitoring was well tolerated in all 35 nonbrachycephalic dogs, with no major adverse events reported.
- Distal GER occurred in 80% of dogs, but events were typically brief and non-productive; proximal GER occurred in only 39%.
- Upper reference limits for GER were 2.4 events/hour (distal) and 0.4 events/hour (proximal).
- Cumulative acid exposure was minimal: upper limits were 2.3% (distal) and 0% (proximal).
- Comparison with brachycephalic dogs shows significantly higher GER frequency and duration, validating the diagnostic utility of pH monitoring.
- Transnasal probe placement under light anesthesia was safe and less morbid compared to percutaneous or conscious techniques.
- No expelled or productive regurgitation occurred, despite some GER events, indicating efficient esophageal clearance in healthy dogs.
- Diet and fasting duration may affect GER, but these were not controlled variables in this study.
Veterinary Surgery
8
2024
Esophageal pH‐monitoring in nonbrachycephalic dogs: A reference
2024-8-VS-nash-1
In Barnes 2024 et al., on knot strength testing, which knot type had the highest overall knot holding capacity (KHC)?
🔍 Key Findings
- Double forwarder (DF) knots had significantly higher knot holding capacity (KHC) than square (SQ) and surgeon’s (SU) knots when tied with <6 throws.
- In 3 USP polyglactin 910, DF knots with 4–5 throws were not significantly stronger than SU knots with 6–8 throws (p > .43).
- DF knots never unraveled, while SQ and SU knots with 4–5 throws showed substantial unraveling.
- KHC did not increase in DF knots when throws increased from 3 to 5.
- Knot volume and weight were significantly higher in DF knots than SQ/SU knots at the same throw count (p < .003).
- DF knots allow sliding placement, potentially useful in minimally invasive or deep cavity procedures.
Veterinary Surgery
2
2024
Evaluation of the in vitro performance of the double forwarder knot, compared to square and surgeon's knots using large gauge suture
2024-2-VS-barnes-1
Quiz Results
You answered 7 out of 10 questions correctly
Key Findings
