
Quiz Question
In Berthomé 2025 et al., on prophylactic fenestration in cervical IVDE, which statement best describes complication rates between PF and non-PF groups?
🔍 Key Findings
- Prophylactic fenestration (PF) significantly reduced recurrence of cervical intervertebral disc extrusion (0% vs. 37.8%, p < .001).
- Surgery time was longer with PF (median 182 vs. 110 min, p = .017), but no difference in perioperative complication rates (PF 16.7%, non-PF 18.9%; p = .838).
- 25% overall recurrence rate, but all recurrences occurred in the non-PF group.
- Medical management was effective in 92.9% of recurrence cases.
- Most PF sites targeted adjacent discs; 88.9% were at adjacent levels, which are common recurrence sites.
- Neurologic outcomes were similar between PF and non-PF dogs post-surgery and at follow-up.
- Fenestration technique (blade vs. burr) not shown to affect outcome but contributed to extended surgical time.
- No major complications or deaths linked directly to PF in initial surgeries.
Veterinary Surgery
6
2025
Recurrence of cervical intervertebral disc extrusion in 55 dogs after surgical decompression with or without prophylactic fenestration
2025-6-VS-berthome-4
In Aertsens 2025 et al., on thoracic lift technique, what was the primary physiologic improvement observed in Cat 1 following lift device application?
🔍 Key Findings
Case 1: Chest wall lift improved oxygenation (PaO₂ increased from 179.4 to 306.3 mmHg) and enabled thoracoscopic-assisted lobectomy in a cat with pleural effusion and pulmonary carcinoma.
Case 2: Chest wall lift using a Steinmann pin allowed 3-port thoracoscopic lobectomy for a bronchial foreign body; no complications observed.
Both cats: Lift increased working space and eliminated need for thoracotomy; no device-related complications.
Pretied ligating loops (PLL) were effective for hilar vessel ligation—preferred over staplers or self-locking ligatures in feline thorax.
Conclusion: Thoracic lift is a novel, minimally invasive method enhancing thoracoscopic procedures in small patients, particularly cats.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2025
Chest wall lift for thoracoscopic lung lobectomy: Technique and results in two cats
2025-4-VS-aertsens-1
In Case 2024 et al., on feline pancreatectomy, which complication occurred postoperatively in one cat?
🔍 Key Findings Summary
- Success rate: All 9 cats underwent successful laparoscopic partial pancreatectomy.
- Complications:
- 1 minor intraoperative hemorrhage (Grade 1)
- 1 sterile peritonitis (Grade 2) post-op, resolved conservatively
- Pancreatic function:
- fTLI decreased by 37% (p = .03), but stayed within normal limits
- fPLI and A1C were unchanged
- Resection details:
- Mean weight: 3.0 ± 1.4 g
- Mean surgical time: 59.7 ± 16.2 min
- Follow-up: 250–446 days — all cats remained clinically healthy
- Conclusion: Ultrasonic LPP is safe and effective in healthy cats, preserving endocrine/exocrine function
Veterinary Surgery
2
2024
Laparoscopic partial pancreatectomy of the left limb using a harmonic scalpel in nine cats
2024-2-VS-case-2
In Planchamp 2022 et al., on imaging-based AAI diagnosis, which measurement best differentiated potentially unstable dogs from AAI-affected dogs?
🔍 Key Findings
- Ventral Compression Index (VCI) ≥0.16 (extension) or ≥0.2 (flexion) was diagnostic for AAI with 100% sensitivity and >94% specificity
- VCI had the highest diagnostic accuracy among all measured variables (AUC > 0.99)
- C1-C2 overlap ≤2.7 mm (extension) or ≤1.8 mm (flexion) also diagnostic for AAI (sensitivity 84–96%, specificity 81–90%)
- C1-C2 angle ≥176.9° (extension) or ≥187.4° (flexion) had high sensitivity and specificity (~95%)
- Basion-dens interval ≥5.9 mm (extension) or ≥3.0 mm (flexion) provided moderate diagnostic accuracy
- Cranial translation ratio (CTR) ≥0.18 classified dogs as potentially unstable (sensitivity 90%, specificity 78%)
- VCI ≥0.23 reliably differentiated AAI from potentially unstable cases (sensitivity 94%, specificity 94%)
- DALR ≤0.24 had high specificity (100%) but low sensitivity for AAI diagnosis
Veterinary Surgery
4
2022
Determination of cutoff values on computed tomography and magnetic resonance images for the diagnosis of atlantoaxial instability in small-breed dogs
2022-4-VS-planchamp-3
In Davey 2024 et al., on modified closed anal sacculectomy, what postoperative complication was most commonly reported after modified closed anal sacculectomy?
🔍 Key Findings
- Modified closed anal sacculectomy resulted in a local recurrence rate of only 2.2%, substantially lower than prior reports (18–50%).
- Postoperative complications occurred in 31.9% of dogs; most (93%) were minor, with dehiscence being the most common.
- Mean survival time in deceased dogs was 521 days; median was 388 days.
- Surgical technique included complete en bloc excision of the sac and duct with sphincter reconstruction, aiming to reduce seeding risk.
- Only one major complication resulted in euthanasia due to infection and dehiscence.
- Histologic margins were complete in 44.7% of dogs; lymphatic invasion was present in 31.9%, and vascular in 8.5%.
- Adjunctive chemotherapy was administered in 34% of dogs (mostly carboplatin); not standardized due to retrospective design.
- Routine rectal exam was key to diagnosis in 57.4% of dogs with no clinical signs, underscoring the importance of screening.
Veterinary Surgery
6
2024
Outcomes of dogs with apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinoma treated via modified closed anal sacculectomy (2015–2022)
2024-6-VS-davey-2
In Winston 2023 et al., on LES-AS surgery outcomes, what percentage of dogs experienced complications related to gastrostomy tubes?
🔍 Key Findings
- Modified Heller myotomy with Dor fundoplication improved vomiting/regurgitation scores by 180%, QoL by 100%, and owner-perceived body weight by 63% (P < .05).
- 6 of 9 dogs with postoperative VFSS showed objective improvement in gastric filling scores; others remained stable.
- Oral sildenafil was discontinued postoperatively in all dogs, indicating surgical success comparable to medical management.
- 12 of 13 dogs survived to discharge; one dog was euthanized due to aspiration pneumonia postoperatively.
- 50% of dogs experienced gastrostomy tube complications, higher than reported in previous literature.
- Most complications were gastrostomy-tube related, with some requiring surgical correction (e.g., tube migration, leakage).
- Feeding strategies (Bailey chair, elevated bowls) and food consistency (gruel/liquid) remained essential postoperatively to control regurgitation.
- 9 of 11 owners would opt for the surgery again; those who wouldn’t cited risk or lack of efficacy.
Veterinary Surgery
2
2023
Management and outcomes of 13 dogs treated with a modified Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication for lower esophageal sphincter achalasia-like syndrome
2023-2-VS-winston-1
In Drudi 2022 et al., on CAL vs TAL outcomes, what clinical difference was reported between the two groups at 15-day follow-up?
🔍 Key Findings
- Cricoarytenoid lateralization (CAL) resulted in a significantly greater increase in rima glottidis area at both immediate (205%) and 15-day (199%) time points compared to thyroarytenoid lateralization (TAL) (152% and 127%, respectively).
- TAL group showed a significant reduction in rima glottidis area between immediate and 15-day postoperative measurements (P < .05), while CAL group had no significant reduction over time.
- No dogs in either group showed postoperative complications, including aspiration pneumonia, at the 15-day follow-up.
- All dogs showed improved clinical signs, including decreased stridor and increased exercise tolerance by day 15.
- CAL produced more stable postoperative glottic area, potentially due to preserved anatomical tension, whereas TAL might experience tension loss due to thyroid cartilage repositioning.
- Both procedures were technically effective and performed under the same protocol by a single board-certified surgeon.
- Endoscopic image analysis was used to quantify rima glottidis area, demonstrating a reliable objective method for surgical outcome assessment.
- Clinical outcome did not differ between groups, despite CAL showing a larger rima glottidis area.
Veterinary Surgery
3
2022
Comparison of immediate and short‐term outcomes of cricoarytenoid and thyroarytenoid lateralization in dogs with idiopathic laryngeal paralysis
2022-3-VS-drudi-4
In Cherzan 2023 et al., on subcutaneous mast cell tumors, what proportion of dogs with lymph node metastases developed tumor recurrence?
🔍 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-5
In Rocheleau 2024 et al., on arthroscopic meniscal suturing, how were failed meniscal repairs managed?
🔍 Key Findings
- Arthroscopic meniscal suturing was performed in 43 client-owned dogs, involving 44 meniscal repairs (one dog was bilateral). All injuries involved the caudal horn of the medial meniscus and were associated with cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) disease.
- All dogs underwent simultaneous TPLO, with some also receiving an internal brace (IB). Most repairs used simple vertical mattress sutures.
- The overall complication rate was 34.1% (15/44). Most complications were attributed to the TPLO/TPLO+IB and did not compromise the meniscal repair outcome.
- No median time to “acceptable” or “full” function was reported, but most dogs showed improvement in lameness and LOAD scores (p < .001), indicating good to excellent outcomes.
- Meniscal repair success rate was 88% (38/44), with TPLO + IB outperforming TPLO-only (93.3% vs 71.4%). Follow-up was performed at 8 weeks (40 dogs) and 6 months (16 dogs).
- Six failures occurred, all managed with arthroscopic meniscectomy, leading to normal activity in those dogs. Two IB-associated failures led to CrCL instability.
- The authors concluded the technique was safe, practical, and effective, with a reasonable complication rate.
- The findings support arthroscopic suturing as a feasible alternative to meniscectomy or meniscal release, offering long-term benefits for preserving the meniscus.
Veterinary Surgery
5
2024
Short‐term outcomes of 43 dogs treated with arthroscopic suturing for meniscal tears
2024-5-VS-rocheleau-4
In Brisimi 2022 et al., on tracheal anastomosis tension, where did failure most commonly occur?
🔍 Key Findings
- Tracheal anastomoses in immature dogs failed at significantly lower distraction forces (44.91 ± 59.03 N) than in adults (149.31 ± 45.36 N; _P_ = .007).
- Immature tracheae tolerated significantly more elongation before failure (39.75 ± 5.45%) than adult tracheae (30.57 ± 7.19%; _P_ = .0012).
- All constructs failed by suture tearing through the annular ligament, primarily near the dorsal tracheal ring.
- Overlapping of tracheal ends was seen in 50% of specimens across both age groups, suggesting limitations in tissue apposition with the chosen technique.
- Simple continuous pattern using 2-0 polypropylene was used; this pattern provides superior tensile strength compared to simple interrupted, but apposition may be suboptimal.
- Tracheal elasticity in immature dogs may allow longer resections, but the lower tensile strength necessitates reinforcement.
- Annular ligament-cartilage technique with 4-mm suture spacing showed variable results; smaller bites and nylon suture may improve outcomes.
- Ex vivo setup using frozen-thawed tracheae is a limitation, but prior studies support comparability with fresh tissue.
Veterinary Surgery
5
2022
Influence of age on resistance to distraction after tracheal anastomoses in dogs: An ex vivo study
2022-5-VS-brisimi-3
Quiz Results
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Key Findings
