🔍 Key Findings

• The survey included 111 practicing surgeons and 28 residents from ACVS, ECVS, and ANZCVS. 98.2% had performed soft tissue minimally invasive surgery (MIS).
• In the past year, surgeons reported a median caseload of 90% basic laparoscopy, 0% advanced laparoscopy, and 10% thoracoscopy; for residents: 100% basic laparoscopy, 0% advanced, 0% thoracoscopy.
• Laparoscopic ovariectomy and OHE were the most commonly performed MIS procedures, with most respondents proficient in basic laparoscopy, but few performing advanced laparoscopy or thoracoscopy.
• Top barriers to MIS adoption were: lack of consistent caseload, lack of training, difficult learning curve, equipment limitations, and cost.
• 76.6% of surgeons and 92.9% of residents received MIS training during residency. Those trained had completed residency median 6 years ago, compared to 22 years ago for those without MIS training (p < .001). Perceived adequate training correlated with higher proficiency.
• MIS was recognized as having a steep learning curve, but patient benefits (mean score 4.0/5) were the top motivation — less pain, faster recovery, improved visualization.
• The authors conclude basic laparoscopy is widely adopted, but advanced and thoracoscopic MIS remain underutilized. Training and access are key to future growth.
• Expanded training and improved access to equipment are necessary to promote broader integration of MIS into veterinary soft-tissue surgery.

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• Used VMBDmD to quantify hip laxity under increasing force in cadaveric dogs (n=34).
• 90% of hips reached ≥90% of LImax at 95.32 N, defining this force as sufficient for subluxation.
• LImax was not significantly influenced by osteoarthritis, weight, sex, or limb side.
• Position of device (lever length) influenced rate of laxity acquisition, not final LImax.
• LI curves were repeatable across 5 sessions, indicating elastic—not plastic—deformation.

🔍 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

• Multidetector CTA had high sensitivity (up to 100%) and specificity (up to 96%) for detecting medial meniscal tears in dogs.
• Observer experience significantly influenced diagnostic accuracy, with more experienced observers showing higher agreement and better performance.
• Training effect was evident, as less experienced observers improved between first and second readings.
• Positive likelihood ratios ≥4.6 and negative likelihood ratios ≤0.08 were observed, suggesting CTA is clinically useful for confirming or ruling out meniscal injury.
• CTA allowed identification of full and partial thickness lesions, with good visualization in sagittal, transverse, and frontal reconstructions.
• Approximately 90% of menisci were correctly classified in second readings.
• No adverse reactions were noted from the contrast injection; sedation was used instead of general anesthesia.
• CTA was less invasive and potentially more cost-effective compared to arthroscopy, especially in settings without MRI access.

🔍 Key Findings

• Objective: Evaluate feasibility and accuracy of 3D-printed patient-specific drill guides for iliosacral screw placement in cadaver dogs.
• N = 10 canine cadavers (20 hemipelves); screw placement done using fluoroscopic-assisted patient-specific guides (PSG).
• Median cortical breach grade: 0 (IQR 0–1) for all screws.
  19/20 screws breached sacral canal wall (all ≤ grade 2), but no screws breached canal contents (grade 3).
• Median trajectory deviation: 0.88° transverse, 0.72° dorsal.
• Procedure time: Median 7.2 minutes for guide placement and drilling.
• Conclusions: PSG-assisted screw placement was safe, accurate, and fast, offering clinical potential in pelvic trauma.

🔍 Key Findings

• Complication rate for subdermal plexus flaps (SPFs) in dogs was 53.6%.
• Skin staples had a numerically higher complication rate (72.2%) than sutures (49.3%), but not statistically significant due to small sample size.
• Most common complication was wound dehiscence (35%), followed by seroma (14%) and wound discharge (14%).
• Increased body weight was significantly associated with higher complication risk (OR = 1.056 per kg; p = .029).
• Advancement flaps were associated with a lower incidence of complications on univariable analysis (p < .001).
• Head region flap closures had fewer complications, while proximal pelvic limb closures had the highest complication rate.
• Age was a risk factor—each additional year increased odds of complications (OR = 1.019; p = .004).
• Closure technique did not significantly influence complication severity, though staple use was numerically worse.

🔍 Key Findings

• Cystoscopic-guided laser ablation (CLA) was associated with significantly fewer minor complications (13%) than neoureterostomy (100%) (P < .01)
• CLA resulted in significantly fewer recurrences of incontinence compared to neoureterostomy (0/7 vs 5/12; P < .05)
• 80% of dogs achieved continence within 1 month postoperatively, with a median continence score of 10
• Long-term continence was achieved in 88% of dogs, with or without adjunctive treatment, over a median of 66 months
• Major complications occurred in only 8% of dogs, and all were successfully managed with surgical revision
• Persistent ureteral remnants were seen only in neoureterostomy dogs, potentially contributing to incontinence recurrence
• All dogs with incontinence recurrence responded to medical treatment, while only 1/5 with persistent incontinence after surgery did
• CLA is recommended over open surgery for iEU correction, due to lower complication and recurrence rates

🔍 Key Findings

• 67.9% of respondents reported using SSCs, with most indicating frequent use (64% used in every surgery).
• 78.7% agreed SSCs reduce complications, and 89.6% believed SSCs improve communication.
• Respondents not using SSCs were more likely to view them as a waste of time (p < .001).
• Forgetfulness (39.6%) and time constraints (36.5%) were leading reasons for checklist noncompletion.
• Only 23.3% had SSC training during surgical residency, with newer diplomates more likely to have had exposure (p < .001).
• Key strategies to improve uptake included: staff feedback modifications (67.9%), formal designation of initiator (48.6%), and training (52.2%).
• Surgeons and OR staff were most commonly identified as noncompliant team members.
• SSC use was more frequent in small animal practices, and mandating SSCs by management was favored but not always effective alone.

🔍 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.

🔍 Key Findings Summary

• Sample: 51 elbows from 35 spaniel dogs
• Healing Rate: Subjective healing (complete or partial) in 80.3% of elbows; complete in 54.9%
• Objective HU analysis: Mean HU increased from 640 (pre-op) to 835 (follow-up) (p = .001)
• Age Effect: Dogs <14 months showed the greatest HU increase (+384 HU) and had wider fissures with less sclerosis
• Complications:
  • Major: 5 dogs (6 limbs); 4 related to fissure healing (7.8%), 2 related to PUO healing (3.9%)
  • Minor: 3 cases (5.8%) due to IM pin migration
• Sclerosis: Older dogs had more humeral condyle sclerosis, possibly limiting healing
• PUO Effectiveness: Confirmed cranio-proximal displacement of anconeal process; aimed to relieve humero-anconeal incongruity
• Control Comparison: Avoids complications associated with transcondylar screw (infection, breakage)