
Your Custom Quiz
In Story 2024 et al., on surgical correction of excessive tibial plateau angle (eTPA), which procedure consistently under-corrected the tibial plateau angle despite a target TPA of 0°?
🔍 Key Findings
- All four techniques achieved TPA <14°, meeting the threshold for acceptable surgical correction in eTPA cases.
- Group A (CBLO + CCWO) and Group D (PTNWO) showed highest accuracy in achieving target TPA values.
- Group B (TPLO + CCWO) resulted in significant tibial shortening compared to other techniques.
- Group A caused the greatest cranial mechanical axis shift, while Group B caused the least.
- Group C (mCCWO) resulted in consistent under-correction of TPA, despite aiming for 0°.
- Modified or neutral wedge osteotomies (Groups C and D) had minimal effect on tibial length, making them suitable when preservation is important.
- All techniques involved mechanical axis shifts, highlighting the importance of preoperative planning to minimize morphologic disruption.
- Supplemental fixation was standard for all procedures to reduce risks such as tibial tuberosity fracture and plateau leveling loss.
Veterinary Surgery
8
2024
Morphologic impact of four surgical techniques to correct excessive tibial plateau angle in dogs: A theoretical radiographic analysis
2024-8-VS-story-4
In Jourdain 2024 et al., on fluoroscopic fixation of feline SIL, what percentage of screws had ≥60% purchase within the sacral body?
🔍 Key Findings
- Minimally invasive fluoroscopic technique yielded median reduction of 94.1% immediately postoperative.
- Screw purchase ≥60% in sacral body achieved in 82% of cases, with median purchase of 73.3%.
- One screw exited caudally; no dorsal, ventral, or cranial exits reported.
- At 7-week follow-up, reduction and purchase slightly declined but remained effective (p = .008 and p = .013).
- No screw loosening observed, even in suboptimal reductions or purchases.
- Pelvic canal width and symmetry (PCDR and HCWR) were restored and maintained.
- Excellent long-term function: FMPI ≥0.98 in 9 of 10 cats; owners reported 10/10 satisfaction.
- Fluoroscopy enabled accurate screw placement and minimized tissue trauma, contributing to rapid recovery.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2024
Fluoroscopically-assisted closed reduction and percutaneous fixation of sacroiliac luxations in cats using 2.4 mm headless cannulated compression screws: Description, evaluation and clinical outcome
2024-4-VS-jourdain-2
In Welker 2024 et al., on thoracic duct anastomosis with MAC device, what percentage of dogs had patent anastomoses at 30 days?
🔍 Key Findings
- Anastomosis of the thoracic duct (TD) to the intercostal vein (ICV) using a microvascular anastomotic coupler (MAC) was feasible in all 6 healthy dogs
- Immediate postoperative patency was confirmed in all dogs, but only 4/6 had patent anastomoses at 30 days, with 2 failing due to ICV kinking
- Kinking of the ICV near the azygos vein insertion was the primary failure mechanism, likely from MAC malalignment
- No intraoperative or major postoperative complications occurred, though 2 dogs developed mild seromas
- Use of the MAC device simplified microsurgical anastomosis versus hand suturing, especially in the deep thoracic cavity
- Contrast lymphangiography showed faster clearance from the cisterna chyli postoperatively, suggesting effective flow redirection
- Persistent branches of the thoracic duct may impact outcomes, and should be ligated during surgery
- This technique may be a potential novel treatment for idiopathic chylothorax, improving outcomes by reducing collateral flow stimuli
Veterinary Surgery
7
2024
Anastomosis of the caudal thoracic duct and intercostal vein using a microvascular anastomotic coupler device: Experimental study in six dogs
2024-7-VS-welker-2
In Sandoval 2024 et al., on lung lobectomy technique outcomes, how many lobectomies per group are needed for a superiority study comparing SLL and stapler?
🔍 Key Findings
- Intra- and postoperative complications occurred only in stapled lobectomies, but the difference was not statistically significant (intra: p = .069, post: p = .112).
- Intraoperative hemorrhage was the most common complication (11.8%), followed by air leakage (2%).
- All self-ligating loop (SLL) lobectomies had zero complications (n=18), though the sample was small.
- Postoperative complications included 4 catastrophic events (cardiopulmonary arrest), all in stapled cases.
- Lung lobectomy technique was not associated with duration of chest tube use, hospitalization, or survival (p > .05).
- 94.3% of patients survived to discharge (82/87).
- SLLs are lower-cost and may be more feasible for thoracoscopic/minimally invasive approaches due to smaller port size (5mm vs. 12mm for staplers).
- A future superiority study would need ≥103 lobectomies per group to assess differences in complication rates.
Veterinary Surgery
7
2024
Short‐term outcomes of dogs and cats undergoing lung lobectomy using either a self-ligating loop or a thoracoabdominal stapler
2024-7-VS-sandoval-5
In Monti 2025 et al., on lymph node fluorescence imaging, what was the observed postoperative complication rate following laparoscopic ISLN removal using NIRF-ICG?
🔍 Key Findings
- Laparoscopic ISLN removal using NIRF-ICG was feasible in 89% of dogs (16/18), demonstrating high procedural success with minimal invasiveness.
- Median laparoscopic dissection time was only 12 minutes, suggesting efficiency of the NIRF-guided approach.
- No postoperative complications were observed, and intraoperative complications occurred in only 2 dogs (11.1%), both requiring conversion to open surgery.
- Metastatic disease was confirmed in 48% of patients (12/25 nodes), including cases where LNs appeared normal in size, highlighting the value of histologic evaluation.
- NIRF-ICG enabled precise identification of small and mildly enlarged nodes, which are often missed during traditional imaging or palpation.
- Fluorescent dye leakage following LN capsule rupture limited visibility and required surgical conversion, indicating a key limitation of the technique.
- ICG signal was occasionally absent in metastatic LNs, likely due to lymphatic rerouting or obstruction, underscoring limitations in SLN identification.
- The lateral approach allowed consistent access to ipsilateral MILN, IILN, and sacral LNs, though contralateral nodes were inaccessible with this method.
Veterinary Surgery
6
2025
Near‐infrared fluorescence‐guided minimally invasive surgery for iliosacral lymph node removal in 18 dogs (2023–2025)
2025-6-VS-monti-5
In O'Marra 2026 et al., on perioperative septic peritonitis, which analgesic protocol was associated with increased short-term survival in dogs?
🔍 Key Findings
- Early enteral nutrition (<24–48 hrs) is associated with improved survival and reduced hospitalization in dogs with septic peritonitis.
- Appropriate empirical antimicrobials improve survival in cats, but data are mixed in dogs.
- Recurrent septic peritonitis (RecSP) has poor survival (0%–43.9%); most common cause is gastrointestinal dehiscence.
- Intraoperative hypotension and preoperative hypoalbuminemia may increase dehiscence risk, though findings are inconsistent.
- Lidocaine CRI during surgery improves survival over opioids alone in dogs.
- Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) is not recommended due to risks of coagulopathy and kidney injury; albumin use is controversial.
- Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is under-recognized but contributes to mortality; IAP monitoring should be considered.
- Diagnostic tests (effusion lactate, glucose, cytology) are unreliable for detecting RecSP; clinical judgment and ultrasound are advised.
Veterinary Surgery
1
2026
Perioperative management of septic peritonitis in small animals: A review
2026-1-vs-omarra-2
In Poggi 2024 et al., on laparoscopic resection of pancreatic masses in dogs, what postoperative complication occurred in one dog but resolved without intervention?
🔍 Key Findings
- Laparoscopic pancreatic mass resection (LPMR) was successfully performed in all 12 dogs, with no conversion to open laparotomy required.
- Median operative time was 69 minutes (range 35–100 min); 11/12 dogs were discharged within 48 hours, and one was discharged after 7 days.
- No major intraoperative complications occurred; minor complications included mild bleeding (2/12) and cannula malfunction (1/12).
- All dogs survived the procedure and were discharged.
- Histopathology confirmed neoplasia in all dogs: 9 insulinomas and 3 pancreatic carcinomas; all tumors were completely excised with clear margins.
- No recurrences were reported; 3 dogs died of unrelated causes, and 9 were still alive at the time of reporting.
- No postoperative hypoglycemia was observed; 1 dog had transient hyperglycemia, and minor complications included vomiting, idiopathic seizures, and pancreatitis, all of which resolved.
- Authors concluded that LPMR is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive alternative to open surgery for selected distal pancreatic masses in dogs.
Veterinary Surgery
5
2024
Laparoscopic resection of pancreatic masses in 12 dogs
2024-5-VS-poggi-4
In Niida 2024 et al., on surgical residents and TPLO time, which surgical phase improved most as residents progressed in training?
🔍 Key Findings
- Resident involvement significantly increased TPLO surgery duration compared to cases performed by faculty surgeons (FS)-only. Residents required 54% more surgery time (GLSM, 153 min) than FS-only cases (GLSM, 99 min), representing a 1.54-fold increase.
- The study did not report on short-term complication rates. No conclusions can be drawn from this source regarding complications between resident and faculty groups.
- Bone plate contouring was not evaluated. The source does not provide data regarding contouring frequency or its comparison between groups.
- Surgery duration significantly decreased after the first year of residency, but remained stable between second- and third-year residents. This was largely due to shorter tibial osteotomy durations, while arthroscopy times remained unchanged across residency years.
- Meniscal treatment was performed in 80% of cases, and it was associated with increased surgical duration, but the study did not compare the frequency of medial meniscal release between resident and faculty cases.
- The study did not evaluate osteotomy healing or revision surgery. Cases requiring immediate reoperation were excluded.
- Bone union outcomes were not assessed at 8 weeks or any other time point.
- The study concludes that resident participation significantly prolongs surgical time, but no data are provided regarding the effect on short-term clinical outcomes.
Veterinary Surgery
5
2024
The impact of surgery resident training on the duration of tibial plateau leveling osteotomy and outcomes in dogs
2024-5-VS-niida-2
In McClean 2025 et al., on shoulder arthrocentesis techniques, which of the following best summarizes the accuracy comparison between SA and ST techniques?
🔍 Key Findings
- Study Type: Cadaveric study using 36 paired canine shoulders (n = 18 per group: Subacromial [SA] and Supratubercular [ST])
- Survey Results: 75% of clinicians preferred SA technique; 25% used ST
- Complete accuracy: 50% (SA), 44% (ST) — no significant difference (p = .8)
- Partial accuracy: 39% (SA), 50% (ST)
- Complete miss: 11% (SA), 5.6% (ST)
- Incidence of IACI:
- SA: 50% (9/18 shoulders)
- ST: 11% (2/18 shoulders) → statistically significant (p = .007)
- Lesion depth: All ST lesions were partial-thickness; SA group had one full-thickness lesion (p = .027)
- Location: Lesions found on glenoid and humeral head with even distribution in SA; only one each in ST
- Landmark-guided injections were ≤50% completely accurate, even by an experienced operator.
- ST technique is safer with lower risk of cartilage damage, despite similar accuracy.
- Findings support considering image-guided techniques to improve both safety and accuracy in clinical settings.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2025
Accuracy and safety of two landmark‐guided techniques for arthrocentesis and intra‐articular injection of the shoulder in dogs
2025-4-VS-mcclean-3
In Pilot 2022 et al., on closure methods in sternotomy, what was the observed difference in complication rates between wire and suture groups?
🔍 Key Findings
- Overall closure-related complication rate was 14.1%, lower than previously reported (17–78%).
- No clinically meaningful difference in complication rate between orthopedic wire (17.4%) and suture (11.5%) closure methods.
- Dog size (≥20 kg) was the only significant risk factor associated with increased closure-related complications (p = .01).
- Type of closure (wire vs. suture) did not affect risk, even in larger dogs.
- Suture closure showed a non-significant trend toward fewer complications (mean reduction 2.3%, 95% CI: –9.1% to +4.5%).
- Most complications were mild (62%), with only 10 severe cases requiring surgical revision.
- Infection rate was low (2.7%), and not significantly different between wire and suture.
- Suture closure is a valid alternative to wire, including in large dogs, based on this large, multi-institutional study.
Veterinary Surgery
6
2022
Comparison of median sternotomy closure‐related complication rates using orthopedic wire or suture in dogs: A multi-institutional observational treatment effect analysis
2022-6-VS-pilot-3
Quiz Results
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