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Ciammaichella et al: Complications of medial retropharyngeal, axillary, and ilio-sacral lymphadenectomy in 127 dogs with malignant tumors
Veterinary Surgery 7, 2025

🔍 Key Findings

  • Ilio-sacral lymphadenectomy had the highest complication rates: intraoperative (7%) and postoperative (41%)
  • Axillary lymphadenectomy showed the lowest complication rates: intraoperative (1%) and postoperative (16%)
  • Enlarged or metastatic lymph nodes were significantly associated with intraoperative complications (p = .030)
  • Postoperative complications were mostly minor (Grade 1) and self-limiting (seromas, edema)
  • Medial retropharyngeal lymphadenectomy had intermediate complication rates: postoperative complications in 26%
  • No significant predictors retained significance in multivariate analysis
  • Use of methylene blue was associated with fewer complications, although not statistically significant
  • Complication rates did not result in mortality, and all were manageable; MST was 374 days

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← Articles

Ciammaichella et al: Complications of medial retropharyngeal, axillary, and ilio-sacral lymphadenectomy in 127 dogs with malignant tumors
Veterinary Surgery 7, 2025

🔍 Key Findings

  • Ilio-sacral lymphadenectomy had the highest complication rates: intraoperative (7%) and postoperative (41%)
  • Axillary lymphadenectomy showed the lowest complication rates: intraoperative (1%) and postoperative (16%)
  • Enlarged or metastatic lymph nodes were significantly associated with intraoperative complications (p = .030)
  • Postoperative complications were mostly minor (Grade 1) and self-limiting (seromas, edema)
  • Medial retropharyngeal lymphadenectomy had intermediate complication rates: postoperative complications in 26%
  • No significant predictors retained significance in multivariate analysis
  • Use of methylene blue was associated with fewer complications, although not statistically significant
  • Complication rates did not result in mortality, and all were manageable; MST was 374 days

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Multiple Choice Questions on this study

In Ciammaichella 2025 et al., on lymphadenectomy complications, which factor was significantly associated with intraoperative complications?

A. Use of methylene blue
B. Lymph node size
C. Concurrent tumor resection
D. Duration of anesthesia
E. Body condition score

Answer: Lymph node size

Explanation: Enlarged LNs were significantly associated with increased risk of intraoperative hemorrhage (p = .030).
In Ciammaichella 2025 et al., on lymphadenectomy complications, what was the significance of using methylene blue during surgery?

A. Improved survival
B. Reduced surgery time
C. Reduced complication rates
D. Improved lymph node yield
E. No impact on outcomes

Answer: Reduced complication rates

Explanation: Methylene blue use was associated with a non-significant reduction in complications and no intraoperative events.
In Ciammaichella 2025 et al., on lymphadenectomy complications, which lymphadenectomy site had the lowest rate of intraoperative complications?

A. Axillary
B. Medial retropharyngeal
C. Ilio-sacral
D. Mandibular
E. Superficial inguinal

Answer: Axillary

Explanation: Only 1% of axillary lymphadenectomies had intraoperative complications, the lowest among the groups.
In Ciammaichella 2025 et al., on lymphadenectomy complications, which lymphadenectomy site had the highest rate of postoperative complications?

A. Ilio-sacral
B. Axillary
C. Medial retropharyngeal
D. Mandibular
E. Sternal

Answer: Ilio-sacral

Explanation: Ilio-sacral lymphadenectomy had a 41% postoperative complication rate, the highest among the groups.
In Ciammaichella 2025 et al., on lymphadenectomy complications, what was the most common type of postoperative complication observed?

A. Incisional dehiscence
B. Wound infection
C. Regional edema
D. Hematoma
E. Nerve injury

Answer: Regional edema

Explanation: Most postoperative complications were minor (Grade 1), with regional edema being the most common.

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