← Articles

Power et al: Incidence and severity of short‐term incisional complications after intraoperative local infiltration of liposomal bupivacaine in dogs
Veterinary Surgery 4, 2022

🔍 Key Findings

  • Overall complication rate was 19.7% (43/218), with most being mild (CSS 1).
  • Soft tissue procedures had higher complication rates (26%) than orthopedic procedures (11.6%) (P < 0.01).
  • No difference in complication rates between clean, clean-contaminated, and contaminated wounds (P = 0.55).
  • No difference in complication rates between labeled use (CCL surgery) and off-label orthopedic procedures (P = 0.21).
  • Majority of complications (63%) were mild, resolving without intervention or with topical therapy.
  • Severe complications requiring revision surgery were rare (2.3%) and occurred mainly in soft-tissue surgeries.
  • Most common complications included SSI (25.6%), dehiscence (16.3%), and seroma (14%).
  • Liposomal bupivacaine appears safe for use in broader orthopedic procedures beyond current labeling.

Simini Surgery Review Podcast

How critical is this paper for crushing the Boards?

🚨 Must-know. I’d bet on seeing this.

📚 Useful background, not must-know.

💤 Skip it. Doubt it’ll ever show up.

Thanks for the feedback!
‍We'll keep fine-tuning the articles vault.
Oops — didn’t go through.
‍Mind trying that again?
← Articles

Power et al: Incidence and severity of short‐term incisional complications after intraoperative local infiltration of liposomal bupivacaine in dogs
Veterinary Surgery 4, 2022

🔍 Key Findings

  • Overall complication rate was 19.7% (43/218), with most being mild (CSS 1).
  • Soft tissue procedures had higher complication rates (26%) than orthopedic procedures (11.6%) (P < 0.01).
  • No difference in complication rates between clean, clean-contaminated, and contaminated wounds (P = 0.55).
  • No difference in complication rates between labeled use (CCL surgery) and off-label orthopedic procedures (P = 0.21).
  • Majority of complications (63%) were mild, resolving without intervention or with topical therapy.
  • Severe complications requiring revision surgery were rare (2.3%) and occurred mainly in soft-tissue surgeries.
  • Most common complications included SSI (25.6%), dehiscence (16.3%), and seroma (14%).
  • Liposomal bupivacaine appears safe for use in broader orthopedic procedures beyond current labeling.

Simini Surgery Review Podcast

Know What Matters in the Literature - and Why

We distill peer-reviewed surgical studies into clinically relevant summaries and
exam-style questions, so you can make informed decisions with confidence.

Free Access. No Spam. Just Smarter Surgical Learning

Multiple Choice Questions on this study

In Power 2022 et al., on liposomal bupivacaine use, which of the following statements about surgical wound classification and complication rate is true?

A. Contaminated wounds had highest complications and were significant
B. Clean-contaminated wounds had zero complications
C. Complication rates differed significantly across wound classifications
D. Wound classification influenced need for revision surgery
E. No significant difference was seen across wound classifications

Answer: No significant difference was seen across wound classifications

Explanation: The study found no significant differences in complication rates across clean, clean-contaminated, and contaminated wounds (P = 0.55).
In Power 2022 et al., on liposomal bupivacaine use, what was the overall incidence of short-term incisional complications in dogs?

A. 8.5%
B. 12.4%
C. 19.7%
D. 26.3%
E. 31.5%

Answer: 19.7%

Explanation: This was the overall complication rate reported, with most complications being mild.
In Power 2022 et al., on liposomal bupivacaine use, what proportion of incisional complications required only topical treatment or no treatment?

A. 12.4%
B. 25.5%
C. 45.2%
D. 62.8%
E. 80.3%

Answer: 62.8%

Explanation: Of the 43 complications, 27 required only minimal or no treatment (CSS 1).
In Power 2022 et al., on liposomal bupivacaine use, what was concluded about its use in off-label orthopedic procedures?

A. It increased the risk of SSI
B. It showed significantly more complications
C. It was not evaluated
D. It appeared safe
E. It was contraindicated

Answer: It appeared safe

Explanation: The study found no significant difference in complication rates between labeled and off-label orthopedic uses.
In Power 2022 et al., on liposomal bupivacaine use, which group had a significantly higher rate of incisional complications?

A. Clean surgical wounds
B. Orthopedic procedures
C. Contaminated surgical wounds
D. Clean-contaminated wounds
E. Soft tissue procedures

Answer: Soft tissue procedures

Explanation: Soft tissue surgeries showed a higher complication rate (26%) vs orthopedic (11.6%), which was statistically significant (P < 0.01).

Access the full library of surgical summaries and exam-style questions.

Get Instant Access

Educational content developed independently and supported by Simini.

The maker of Simini Protect Lavage.

Review More Key Summaries from this Veterinary Surgery Journal Issue

Beamon

 et al: 

Effect of calcanean bone‐tunnel orientation for teno‐osseous repair in a canine common calcanean tendon avulsion model

Larose

 et al: 

Comparing 3 mm and 5 mm laparoscopic liver biopsy samples in dogs

Neal

 et al: 

The effect of an aiming device on the accuracy of humeral transcondylar screw placement

Mattioli

 et al: 

Peripheral sentinel lymphadenectomy in 163 dogs: Postoperative surgical complications and comparison between intraoperative dissection techniques

Miller

 et al: 

Performance time and leak pressure of hand-sewn and skin staple intestinal anastomoses and enterotomies in cadaveric cats