🔍 Key Findings

• Peripheral nerve block (PNB) was preferred by 79% of anesthesiologists; lumbosacral epidural (LE) by 21%; PI <1%.
• Time since board-certification significantly influenced preference: PNB favored by newer diplomates, LE favored by more senior ones (p < .001).
• Employment sector mattered: PNB was preferred more in private practice, LE more in academia (p = .003).
• PNB perceived as more effective, with 78% reporting 81–100% effectiveness; compared to 55% for LE.
• PNB associated with fewer adverse effects (75%) than LE (4%) and PI (21%).
• PNB required less rescue analgesia intraoperatively (57%) and postoperatively (54%) than LE or PI.
• LE preferred for bilateral TPLOs and in smaller dogs; PNB for larger dogs, due to motor function preservation.
• Dexmedetomidine was the most common additive to PNB; bupivacaine-only was most used for PNB.

🔍 Key Findings

• 12.5% overall incidence of SSI after limb amputation, and 10.9% for clean procedures.
• Bipolar vessel sealing device use for muscle transection significantly increased SSI risk (OR 2.5; P = .023).
• Monopolar electrosurgery and sharp transection were not associated with increased SSI risk.
• Non-clean wound classification increased SSI odds (OR 8.2; P = .003).
• Amputation for infection (OR 5.7) or trauma (OR 4.5) significantly increased SSI risk compared to neoplasia.
• Preoperative infections at distant sites did not significantly increase SSI risk.
• Neither surgery/anesthesia duration, hypothermia, hypotension, nor skin closure method significantly affected SSI risk.
• Study supports avoiding bipolar sealing devices for muscle transection in limb amputations to reduce SSI risk.

🔍 Key Findings

• Modified Heller myotomy with Dor fundoplication improved vomiting/regurgitation scores by 180%, QoL by 100%, and owner-perceived body weight by 63% (P < .05).
• 6 of 9 dogs with postoperative VFSS showed objective improvement in gastric filling scores; others remained stable.
• Oral sildenafil was discontinued postoperatively in all dogs, indicating surgical success comparable to medical management.
• 12 of 13 dogs survived to discharge; one dog was euthanized due to aspiration pneumonia postoperatively.
• 50% of dogs experienced gastrostomy tube complications, higher than reported in previous literature.
• Most complications were gastrostomy-tube related, with some requiring surgical correction (e.g., tube migration, leakage).
• Feeding strategies (Bailey chair, elevated bowls) and food consistency (gruel/liquid) remained essential postoperatively to control regurgitation.
• 9 of 11 owners would opt for the surgery again; those who wouldn’t cited risk or lack of efficacy.

🔍 Key Findings

• Survival rates did not differ between immediate (90 min) and delayed (≥5 h) surgical stabilization groups at discharge or 1-month post-op (approx. 80% survival in both).
• Hyperlactatemia at 24 hours post-fluid therapy was significantly associated with in-hospital and 1-month mortality (P = .01 and P = .02).
• Persistent tachycardia during hospitalization was linked to increased 1-month mortality (P = .015).
• Partial gastrectomy was required in ~6–10% of cases, with high associated mortality.
• Preoperative stabilization protocols (trocarization, nasogastric tube) allowed safe surgical delays up to 13.7 hours without impacting survival.
• Degree of gastric torsion differed between groups; more 0° torsions in delayed cases, potentially due to decompression-induced derotation.
• No difference in post-op complications such as arrhythmias, hypotension, or AKI between groups.
• More intra-anesthetic deaths occurred in immediate surgery group, highlighting importance of adequate pre-op stabilization.

🔍 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

🔍 Key Findings

40 dogs underwent splenectomy using 16 bipolar vessel sealing devices (VSDs)
Devices were reused up to 4 times after handwashing and ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilization
Biologic debris was found in 100% of devices, specifically under the transection blade, even after a single use

• Mostly scant (14/16) or mild (2/16) debris

No devices or debris yielded positive aerobic culture after EtO sterilization
EtO sterilization proved microbiologically effective despite visible residue
Perioperative failure rate: 1 device (malfunctioned during first activation)

🔍 Key Findings

• Telovelar approach enabled complete resection of a fourth ventricle choroid plexus tumor in a dog without postoperative complications.
• Postoperative MRI confirmed gross total tumor removal, and the dog remained neurologically normal 28 months post-surgery.
• The tela choroidea was used as a surgical landmark and incised to allow atraumatic access to the tumor.
• Cerebellum was spared using this technique, minimizing risk of cerebellar injury (e.g., cerebellar mutism).
• No hemorrhagic complications were noted during surgery due to dissection through avascular planes.
• Histopathology favored choroid plexus carcinoma based on mitotic index (9/10 HPFs), though definitive diagnosis remained pending.
• The case highlights the utility of telovelar over transvermian approach, given its minimally traumatic nature and improved exposure.
• Survival beyond 2 years without adjunctive therapy suggests surgical excision alone may be curative in select cases.

🔍 Key Findings

• Lower CTI values were significantly associated with higher risk of both intraoperative and postoperative femoral fractures or fissures (p <.0001).
• The mean CTI for all dogs was 0.285, whereas dogs with fissures/fractures had a mean CTI of 0.246.
• For each 0.001 increase in CTI, odds of fissure/fracture decreased by 2–3% depending on perioperative timing.
• High interobserver reliability (ICC = 0.984) and consistency between pre- and postoperative CTI measurements (ICC = 0.96).
• CTI was the only significant risk factor identified; age, breed, bodyweight, BCS, CFI, or luxoid hips were not significant.
• Prophylactic lateral plating in dogs with low CTI (mean 0.230) resulted in no postoperative fractures.
• Postoperative fractures occurred in 8% of cases, and 93% of dogs returned to full function within one year.
• CTI may be a useful radiographic screening tool, especially when advanced imaging (e.g., DEXA) is unavailable.

🔍 Key Findings

• Refracture occurred in 5.5% of limbs, with higher incidence in the plate removal group (12.5%) vs. non-removal (3.5%).
• In the non-plate removal group, refractures occurred at the most distal screw site, linked to greater screw position change during growth (OR 1.79, p=0.04).
• Screw-to-bone diameter ratio (SBDR) >0.4 was a significant risk factor for refracture in the plate retention group.
• In the plate removal group, refractures occurred at the original fracture site, associated with lower pixel value ratio (bone mineral density) and reduced radial thickness.
• Implant-induced osteoporosis (IIO) beneath the plate likely contributed to refracture risk after plate removal.
• Younger age at fracture (<6 months) was associated with higher refracture risk due to ongoing radial growth and shifting screw position.
• No significant association was found between refracture and plate type (locking vs conventional), fixation method, or ulnar union.
• Recommendations include careful SBDR sizing, motion restriction, and cautious plate removal decisions in growing dogs.