🔍 Key Findings

• Lateral approach to ALN extirpation was successful in 100% of cases (44 dogs, 48 ALNs) with consistent anatomical landmarks (costochondral junction of rib 1 and caudal scapular edge).
• Median time for ALN removal was 16.6 minutes, highlighting a fast and efficient dissection method.
• No intraoperative complications were recorded (e.g., hemorrhage or inability to find the lymph node).
• Postoperative complications occurred in 18% of cases, including seromas (n=2), wound dehiscence (n=4), lameness (n=1), and discomfort (n=1).
• Histopathology revealed 56% of ALNs had tumor-related pathology, including overt metastases, early metastasis (HN2), or premetastatic changes (HN1).
• Normal-sized ALNs (<2 cm) still harbored metastases in 22% of cases, emphasizing the unreliability of size as a staging criterion.
• False negatives in cytology occurred in 4 cases, underlining the limitations of cytologic evaluation for staging.
• The technique was reproducible without specialized tools, suggesting wide applicability in general and referral practice.

🔍 Key Findings

• COR of elbows with FMCP was significantly more caudal compared to normal elbows, based on CT-derived geometry.
• In normal elbows, 74% of medial and 93% of lateral axes exited cranial and distal to the epicondyles.
• In FMCP elbows, 81% of medial and 70% of lateral axes exited caudal and distal to the epicondyles.
• Different landmark combinations produced slightly different COR approximations, especially between humeral vs. radius/ulna-based axes.
• The medial-lateral axis using trochlea and capitulum centers provided the most consistent COR approximation.
• COR estimations based on diseased elbows may not match normal joint geometry, impacting implant alignment accuracy.
• External epicondylar landmarks may be useful intraoperatively to estimate COR location, but variability limits precision.
• Drill diameter size may buffer small COR differences, but impact in advanced disease or bilateral cases remains unclear.

🔍 Key Findings

• CPAP at 5 cmH₂O via helmet significantly improved PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio in the early postoperative period of brachycephalic dogs, supporting enhanced pulmonary oxygen exchange (p = .04).
• CPAP had no significant effect on SpO₂ (p = .9), PaCO₂ (p = .18), or rectal temperature (p = .5).
• Helmet tolerance decreased over time, with 13 dogs withdrawn for intolerance (9 CPAP, 4 control) and 6 dogs withdrawn for airway compromise (5 control, 1 CPAP).
• CPAP group maintained PaO₂/FiO₂ ratios near or above 400 mmHg, while control dogs showed consistently lower values.
• Authors suggest PaO₂/FiO₂ is a more reliable oxygenation measure than SpO₂ for evaluating postoperative lung function.
• The study found no cases of hyperthermia; temperatures normalized over time in both groups.
• Arterial catheterization failed in several dogs, limiting blood gas analysis to a subset of the population.
• Authors recommend further studies focused on BOAS patients and exploring longer-duration CPAP use to assess impact on critical outcomes like tracheostomy rates or hospitalization.

🔍 Key Findings

Study population: 21 dogs with portocaval extrahepatic portosystemic shunts (EHPSS)
Surgical approach: 67% (14/21) underwent ameroid constrictor placement
Perioperative complications: 4 dogs (19%), including seizures (n = 2), vomiting, and abdominal effusion
Perioperative mortality: 1 dog (5%)
Postoperative clinical outcome:

• Good to excellent outcome: 81% (17/21)
• Median follow-up: 6 months (range 3–43)

Persistence of shunting (CT or US): 56% (9/16 evaluated)
Dogs with persistent shunting: 67% still had good to excellent clinical outcome
Congenital portocaval shunts may have more favorable outcomes than previously reported

🔍 Key Findings

• Arthroscopic-assisted hip toggle stabilization (AA-HTS) was successfully completed in all 14 feline cadaver joints.
• Femoral and acetabular tunnel creation was feasible in all cases, though femoral tunnel placement had a higher rate of deviations.
• Intraoperative complications occurred in 5/14 joints, mostly related to femoral tunnel creation and toggle lodging.
• Minor articular cartilage injury (<10% total cartilage area) occurred in 10/14 joints, but no injury to neurovascular or intrapelvic structures.
• Thirteen surgical technique deviations (8 major, 5 minor) were identified in 7 joints, all involving the femoral tunnel.
• Toggle passage through the femoral tunnel was the most challenging step, being mildly difficult in 6 joints.
• Postoperative CT and gross dissection confirmed all toggles and buttons were in correct position, without damage to major surrounding structures.
• No deviations, complications, or cartilage injuries occurred in the last 4 joints, suggesting a learning curve effect.

🔍 Key Findings

• Fasting ammonia (FA) was the most specific test (100%) for confirming EHPSS closure postoperatively.
• Serum hyaluronic acid (SHA) and MEGX at 15 minutes post-lidocaine were the most sensitive tests (96.9% and 96.2%, respectively).
• SHA combined with MEGX T15, or with FA or postprandial serum bile acids (SBA), provided 100% sensitivity with good specificity (72.4–82.8%).
• SHA levels remained elevated in all dogs with persistent shunting, even when other tests were normal.
• Paired SBA had moderate sensitivity (90%) and variable specificity (89%).
• The L/MEGX test at 30 min was less useful than at 15 min for assessing closure.
• Traditional SBA testing showed reduced utility postoperatively; normal values did not rule out persistent shunting.
• Blood tests improved when combined, but imaging remains essential to definitively confirm EHPSS closure.

🔍 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.

🔍 Key Findings

• 65% of stifles with patella luxation and intact CCLs had increased radiographic soft tissue opacity
• Weight and radiographic OA were significantly associated with increased opacity (p = .0029 and p = .0143)
• Each 1 kg increase in weight increased the odds of opacity by 10%
• Grade of patella luxation, age, and muscle atrophy were not significantly associated with increased opacity
• 19% of dogs with long-term follow-up developed a CCL rupture post-patella surgery, 50% of those had opacity at initial presentation
• Radiographic opacity alone should not be interpreted as CCL disease in dogs with patella luxation
• Radiographic findings likely represent effusion or synovial hyperplasia, not CCL pathology
• Arthrotomy was used to confirm CCL integrity at surgery, but arthroscopy could provide better sensitivity

🔍 Key Findings

• 3D-printed patient-specific guides (PSGs) improved tibial cut alignment in the frontal plane compared to generic guides (mean error 1.03° vs 2.41°, p = .036).
• All tibial cuts using PSGs were within 3° of target alignment, while 2/8 of the generic group were outliers.
• PSGs significantly improved sagittal alignment of both distal (p = .018) and cranial (p = .043) femoral cuts.
• No significant difference was found in varus-valgus femoral alignment or closing angle between PSG and generic guide groups.
• Tibial sagittal slope alignment was not significantly different between groups.
• PSGs provided better intraoperative usability, including improved visibility, no loosening, and ease of use.
• Femoral sizing and component fit were equivalent between PSGs and generic guides, ensuring proper prosthesis alignment.
• PSGs may offer training advantages for novice surgeons, especially in anatomically complex or deformed joints.

🔍 Key Findings

• Ventricular fibrillation (VF) occurred in 3% of pericardiectomy cases across reporting institutions.
• 14 of 16 dogs (88%) that developed intraoperative VF died, indicating high mortality.
• Electrosurgical devices were used in 15/16 dogs; VF onset coincided with their use in 8 dogs, suggesting a potential but unproven association.
• Preoperative arrhythmias were seen in 7 dogs (e.g., VPCs, VT, bradycardia), possibly serving as early warning signs.
• Thoracoscopic approach was used in 75% of cases; however, conversion to open surgery was required in 9/13 thoracoscopic procedures after VF onset.
• Defibrillation was attempted in 13 dogs, but only 3 converted to sinus rhythm, and only 2 survived postoperatively.
• VF may result from stray current or cardiac manipulation; bipolar energy devices were implicated despite lower theoretical risk.
• Preventative strategies include judicious electrosurgery use, close ECG monitoring, rapid CPR preparedness, and preop cardiac risk assessment.