← Articles

Dickerson et al: Outcome in 38 dogs surgically treated for hepatic abscessation
Veterinary Surgery 1, 2023

🔍 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.

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

Dickerson et al: Outcome in 38 dogs surgically treated for hepatic abscessation
Veterinary Surgery 1, 2023

🔍 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.

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 Dickerson 2023 et al., on surgical outcomes in hepatic abscessation, what was the most commonly identified bacterial isolate?

A. Klebsiella spp.
B. Staphylococcus spp.
C. Escherichia coli
D. Streptococcus spp.
E. Candida albicans

Answer: Escherichia coli

Explanation: E. coli was the most common isolate, found in 8 of 35 dogs.
In Dickerson 2023 et al., on surgical outcomes in hepatic abscessation, what was the median survival time for dogs discharged from the hospital?

A. 138 days
B. 291 days
C. 365 days
D. 538 days
E. 638 days

Answer: 638 days

Explanation: Dogs surviving to discharge had a median survival time of 638 days.
In Dickerson 2023 et al., on surgical outcomes in hepatic abscessation, what proportion of dogs developed intraoperative hypotension?

A. 12%
B. 32%
C. 50%
D. 78%
E. 89%

Answer: 89%

Explanation: Intraoperative hypotension occurred in 32 of 36 dogs (89%).
In Dickerson 2023 et al., on surgical outcomes in hepatic abscessation, which surgical intervention was most commonly performed?

A. Partial omentalization
B. Full omentalization
C. Exploratory laparotomy only
D. Liver lobectomy
E. Cholecystectomy

Answer: Liver lobectomy

Explanation: Liver lobectomy was the primary surgical approach, performed in 27 of 36 dogs.
In Dickerson 2023 et al., on surgical outcomes in hepatic abscessation, what was the reported in-hospital mortality rate?

A. 5%
B. 11%
C. 21%
D. 35%
E. 43%

Answer: 21%

Explanation: 8 of 38 dogs died before discharge, corresponding to a 21% mortality rate.

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

Banks

 et al: 

A mismatch of planning and achieved tibial plateau angle in cranial closing wedge surgery: An in silico and clinical evaluation of 100 cases

Yu

 et al: 

Systematic review of surgical treatment for severe elbow osteoarthritis in dogs

Carvajal

 et al: 

Serum acute-phase protein concentrations following uncomplicated total hip arthroplasty in dogs

Danielski

 et al: 

Complications after proximal abducting ulnar osteotomy and prognostic factors in 66 dogs

Paulick

 et al: 

Ex vivo comparison of lateral plate repairs of experimental oblique ilial fractures in cats