Evaluation of long-term outcome after lung lobectomy for canine non-neoplastic pulmonary consolidation via thoracoscopic or thoracoscopic-assisted surgery in 12 dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To report outcomes of thoracoscopic (TL) and thoracoscopic-assisted lung lobectomy (TAL) for treatment of non-neoplastic pulmonary consolidation (PC) in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: Twelve client-owned dogs. METHODS: The medical records of 12 dogs that underwent TL or TAL for PC at 3 veterinary institutions between 2011 and 2020 were reviewed. Signalment, history, physical examination, diagnostics, days in hospital, anesthetic and procedure times, intraoperative/postoperative complications, conversion rates, duration of indwelling thoracic drain, and long-term outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: Nine patients underwent a TL approach and 3 underwent TAL. In those that underwent TL, conversion to an intercostal thoracotomy was performed in 4 out of 9 dogs. Conversion was performed due to adhesions (n = 3) or poor visualization (1). Histopathologic examination was consistent with pneumonia due to an infectious process (n = 10), bronchioalveolar malformation with abnormal cilia (1), and left-sided cardiac insufficiency vs. pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (1). The mean duration of hospital stay was 4 days (range, 1-6 days). Complications occurred postoperatively in 7 dogs and included self-limiting hemorrhage (n = 3), self-resolving pneumothorax (2), incisional dehiscence (1), and severe dyspnea in a brachycephalic breed leading to euthanasia (1). For the 11 dogs that survived the perioperative period, there was no evidence of recurrence with a median follow up of 24 months (range, 5-120 months). CONCLUSION: Thoracoscopic (TL) and thoracoscopic-assisted lung lobectomy (TAL) is a reasonable surgical approach in select dogs with PC. CLINICIAL RELEVANCE: Conversion rates were higher than those historically reported for dogs undergoing thoracoscopic lung lobectomy for primary lung tumors.

Effect of epitendinous suture augmentation to a double Krackow suture pattern for canine gastrocnemius tendon repair.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a double Krackow suture pattern (DK), with and without epitendinous suture augmentation (ES), in a canine gastrocnemius tendon (GT) model. SAMPLE: Paired GTs from 12 adult dog cadavers and 4 control GT. PROCEDURES: GTs were assigned to 2 groups (n = 12/group). Transverse tenotomy was performed and repaired with a DK or DK + ES. Yield, peak, and failure force, stiffness, occurrence of 1-and 3-mm gapping, and failure mode were examined. RESULTS: Yield, peak, and failure loads were greater for DK + ES. Yield force was 48% greater for DK + ES (mean ± SD, 149.56 ± 53.26 N) versus DK (101.27 ± 37.17 N; P = 0.017). Peak force was 45% greater for DK + ES P < 0.001). Failure force was 47% greater for DK + ES (193.752 ± 31.43 N) versus DK (131.54 ± 22.28 N; P < 0.001). Construct stiffness was 36% greater for DK + ES (P = 0.04). All 12 DK and 10 of 12 DK + ES repairs produced a 1-mm gap, with all DK and 4 DK + ES repairs producing a 3-mm gap (P < 0.001). Loads required to create a 3-mm gap were significantly greater for DK + ES (P < 0.013). Suture breakage occurred in all DK repairs, which differed from DK + ES, where suture breakage (7/12) and tissue failure (5/12; P = 0.037) predominated. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Augmentation of a primary DK repair with an ES significantly improved construct strength in canine GT constructs while increasing loads required to cause 1- and 3-mm gap formation, respectively. ES augmentation is a simple technique modification that can be used to significantly increase construct strength, compared with DK alone.

Cranial internal hemipelvectomy (iliectomy) with limb sparing for a dog with ilial chondrosarcoma: A case report.

Cranial internal hemipelvectomy can be successful for excision of ilial CSA with minimal complications. Iliectomy with adjuvant radiation therapy was well tolerated in a dog with grade II ilial CSA. The dog survived 1,271 days postoperatively and supposedly succumbed to a disease process unrelated to the CSA.

Intraoperative surgeon probe inspection compared to leak testing for detecting gaps in canine jejunal continuous anastomoses: A cadaveric study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the detection of gaps in jejunal continuous anastomoses by probing (PT) versus leak testing (LT). STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. ANIMALS: Normal jejunal segments (n = 24) from two fresh canine cadavers. METHODS: Intestinal segments were randomly selected by four volunteers who created six simple continuous anastomoses: two constructs using standard technique with 2-3 mm suture spacing (ST, 8 total), and four constructs with one 4-mm gap (IG, 16 total). All 24 anastomoses were examined with PT (1 volunteer) prior to LT (3 volunteers). LT was performed within a maximal peristaltic pressure range (34-54 cmH2 O). The presence and location of anastomotic leaks (LA ) detected with LT were compared with gaps detected with PT. RESULTS: Nineteen out of twenty-four (79.2%) samples had at least one probe drop, and four out of twenty-three (17.4%) samples leaked. LT results from one sample were excluded due to iatrogenic suture failure. PT was 100% sensitive (95% CI: 51.01, 100%) with a 100% negative predictive value (95% CI: 56.55, 100%) at detecting gaps compared with LT. The location of all LA was accurately identified with PT and confirmed during LT. CONCLUSION: PT was highly sensitive at detecting gaps compared with LT. All LA were accurately detected by PT. None of the segments negative during PT leaked. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The diagnostic value of PT appears adequate to recognize gaps in cadaveric small intestinal anastomoses. PT offers surgeons an alternative to detect suture gaps that may contribute to postoperative dehiscence of intestinal anastomoses.