Evaluation of a laparoscopically assisted ovariectomy technique in cats.

Objective: To describe a laparoscopically assisted ovariectomy (LAO) technique in the cat with a bipolar vessel sealing device (BVSD) or suture ligation and to compare the outcomes to open ovariohysterectomy (OO).

Study Design: Randomized prospective study ANIMALS: Healthy, adult, sexually intact female cats (n = 30).

Methods: Ten cats were assigned to each group: LAO with BVSD (group A), LAO with ligation (group B), and OO with ligation (group C).

Impact of Expert Commentary and Student Reflection on Veterinary Clinical Decision-Making Skills in an Innovative Electronic-Learning Case-Based Platform.

One challenge in veterinary education is bridging the divide between the nature of classroom examples (well-defined problem solving) and real world situations (ill-defined problem solving). Solving the latter often relies on experiential knowledge, which is difficult to impart to inexperienced students. A multidisciplinary team including veterinary specialists and learning scientists developed an interactive, e-learning case-based module in which students made critical decisions at five specific points (Decision Points [DPs]).

Epicardial exposure provided by a novel thoracoscopic pericardectomy technique compared to standard pericardial window.

Objective: (1) To describe a novel technique for thoracoscopic pericardectomy using a pericardial window with vertical pericardial fillets (PW+F). (2) To compare epicardial exposure between a standard pericardial window (PW) and PW+F.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Evaluation of Gastroesophageal Reflux in Anesthetized Dogs with Brachycephalic Syndrome.

Brachycephalic airway syndrome may predispose to gastroesophageal reflux (GER) because of the high negative intrathoracic pressures required to overcome conformational partial upper airway obstruction. To investigate this, 20 dogs presenting for elective correction of brachycephalic airway syndrome (cases) and 20 non-brachycephalic dogs (controls) undergoing other elective surgeries were prospectively enrolled. Dogs underwent a standardized anesthetic protocol, and esophageal pH was monitored.

Survey of Intraoperative Bacterial Contamination in Dogs Undergoing Elective Orthopedic Surgery.

Objective: To investigate the frequency, source, and risk factors of intraoperative (IO) surgeon and patient bacterial contamination during clean orthopedic surgeries, and to investigate the relationship between IO contamination and surgical site infection (SSI) in dogs.

Study Design: Prospective clinical study.

Sample Population: Client-owned dogs undergoing stifle surgery (n = 100).

Advances in Otoscopy.

Ear disease is a common condition in dogs and cats, and otoscopy should be performed on every case. Video-otoscopy is an incredible tool for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of ear disease. It may serve as a form of positive reinforcement, because the client can readily see progress made with treatment.

Evaluation of Pharyngeal Function in Dogs with Laryngeal Paralysis Before and After Unilateral Arytenoid Lateralization.

Objective: To evaluate pharyngeal and laryngeal function using esophagography, topical pharyngeal/laryngeal sensitivity testing, and electromyography (EMG) in normal and dogs with idiopathic laryngeal paralysis (ILP) before and after unilateral arytenoid lateralization.

Study: Prospective controlled cohort study.

Animals: Dogs with laryngeal paralysis (ILP; n = 8) and age/breed-matched (AB, n = 8) and young breed-matched dogs (B, n = 8) were recruited.

Complications and Conversion from Endoscopic to Open Surgery.

Endoscopic surgery is a rapidly expanding modality of diagnosis and treatment of small animal patients. The development of skills, equipment, and minimally invasive means of correcting complications may be of great importance in decreasing the incidence of conversion from endoscopic to open surgery; however, conversion to an open approach should never be seen as a failure. Conversion should be considered at any time that it is of the greatest benefit for the patient.

Outcomes of dogs undergoing limb amputation, owner satisfaction with limb amputation procedures, and owner perceptions regarding postsurgical adaptation: 64 cases (2005-2012).

Objective: To evaluate outcomes of dogs and owner satisfaction and perception of their dogs' adaptation following amputation of a thoracic or pelvic limb.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: 64 client-owned dogs.

Use of a Nitinol Wire Stent for Management of Severe Tracheal Stenosis in an Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus roratus).

A 25-year-old, female eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus) presented for dyspnea 3 weeks after anesthesia and surgery for egg yolk coelomitis. Radiography, computed tomography, and tracheoscopy revealed multiple tracheal strictures spanning a length of 2.6 cm in the mid to distal trachea.

Current concepts in minimally invasive surgery of the thorax.

Thoracoscopy is a technique that has been shown to decrease patient morbidity and is rapidly becoming more diversely applied for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in veterinary medicine. This article describes the basic equipment and application of thoracoscopy in small animal surgery. The diagnostic and therapeutic applications are introduced and briefly described.

Description of the Anatomy, Surgical Technique, and Outcome of Hemipelvectomy in 4 Dogs and 5 Cats.

Objective: To provide (1) a comprehensive description of hemipelvectomy; and (2) report clinical application and outcome of hemipelvectomy in dogs and cats.

Study Design: Descriptive report and retrospective case series.

Animals: Dogs (n = 4) and 5 cats.

Prevalence and risk factors for canine post-anesthetic aspiration pneumonia (1999-2009): a multicenter study.

Objective: To determine the incidence of canine post-anesthetic aspiration pneumonia (AP) and to identify anesthetic agents, procedures and management factors associated with the development of AP.

Study Design: Multicenter, randomized, case-controlled retrospective study.

Animals: Two hundred and forty dogs affected with AP and 488 unaffected control dogs.

Thoracoscopy in the cat: an up-and-coming diagnostic and therapeutic procedure.

Practical Relevance: Thoracoscopy provides a minimally invasive means of diagnosis and offers many important benefits when compared with open thoracotomy.

Clinical Challenges: The expense of the equipment, the steep learning curve required to gain proficiency in thoracoscopic surgery, and the limitations imposed by the feline thoracic cavity, in terms of working and viewing space, are some of the challenges that have limited its uptake to date. However, it is envisaged that it will increase as a technique in feline medicine, in much the same way as laparoscopy has.

Modified-closed castration: a novel technique for sea otter (Enhydra lutris nereis) orchiectomies.

A novel surgical technique was used in the routine castrations of two intact male southern sea otters, Enhydra lutris nereis, housed at the Georgia Aquarium (Atlanta, Georgia, USA). This technique involved incising the parietal vaginal tunic to allow placement of double ligation of the ductus deferens, testicular artery, and pampiniform plexus en masse. After ligating and transecting these structures, they were introduced back into the tunic, which was closed with a circumferential ligature.

Innovative approach to laparoscopic adrenalectomy for treatment of unilateral adrenal gland tumors in dogs.

Objective: To report a technique for, and short-term outcome of unilateral laparoscopic adrenalectomy in dogs positioned in sternal recumbency without abdominal support.

Study Design: Experimental and prospective clinical study.

Animals: Healthy dogs (n = 5) and dogs with unilateral adrenal gland tumor (n = 9).

Postoperative complications associated with caudectomy in brachycephalic dogs with ingrown tails.

Surgical correction of an ingrown tail is indicated to relieve clinical signs of intertriginous dermatitis. The objective of this retrospective study was to identify the type and frequency of complications following caudectomy in dogs with ingrown tails. Medical records of dogs with ingrown tails treated with caudectomy from 2000 to 2010 at the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital were reviewed.

Efficacy of serosal patching in dogs with septic peritonitis.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation of serosal patching in dogs with existing septic peritonitis with continued postoperative septic peritonitis and death. Records were collected from dogs that underwent intestinal surgery from 1998 to 2007 at four veterinary teaching hospitals and one private referral clinic. Dogs were included if they were diagnosed with septic peritonitis and had subsequent surgery of either the small intestine or cecum.

Efficacy of incisional gastropexy for prevention of GDV in dogs.

Incisional gastropexy (IG) is routinely performed as either a prophylactic procedure to prevent occurrence of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) or at the time of surgical correction of GDV to prevent recurrence. Despite its common use, the long-term efficacy of the IG procedure has not been reported. The hypothesis of this study was that IG performed either during surgical treatment of GDV or as a prophylactic measure would effectively prevent GDV.

Retrospective evaluation of vacuum-assisted peritoneal drainage for the treatment of septic peritonitis in dogs and cats: 8 cases (2003-2010).

Objective: To describe the use of vacuum-assisted peritoneal drainage (VAPD) in dogs and cats with septic peritonitis.

Design: Retrospective descriptive study.

Setting: University Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Doppler echocardiographic diagnosis and surgical therapy of constrictive pericarditis in a cat.

A 4-year-old Ragdoll cat presented for dyspnea secondary to chylous pleural effusion to the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Physical examination, complete blood count, serum chemistries, urinalysis, thoracic radiographs, abdominal radiographs, and thoracic fluid cytology and culture failed to identify an etiology for the chylous effusion. The patient tested negative for feline leukemia virus, feline immunodeficiency virus and heartworm disease.

Comparison and description of transdiaphragmatic and abdominal minimally invasive cisterna chyli ablation in dogs.

Objective: To develop, describe, and compare transdiaphragmatic (TD) and abdominal minimally invasive approaches to cisterna chyli (CC) ablation.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Animals: Adult dogs (n = 18; weighing, 19.

Comparison of the carbon dioxide laser and the radiofrequency unit for feline onychectomies.

This study compared the collateral tissue damage and incisional bridging with granulation tissue via histopathological examination following feline onychectomy performed by radiofrequency (RF) and carbon dioxide (CO(2)) laser. Two cats were euthanized, and their digits were harvested for histopathological evaluation on days 1, 3, and 7 post-onychectomy. Each digit was evaluated for total lesion width, total necrosis width, and degree of edema, hemorrhage, and inflammation.

Cystoscopic diagnosis and treatment of ectopic ureters in female dogs: 16 cases (2005-2008).

Objective: To determine outcome of cystoscopic-guided transection for treatment of ectopic ureters in dogs.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: 16 female dogs.