🔍 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)

🔍 Key Findings

• Open transcholecystic cholangioscopy was feasible using a 3.8 mm disposable flexible endoscope in all 8 canine cadavers.
• Visualization was consistently achieved up to the junction of the hepatic ducts, common bile duct, and cystic duct.
• Advancement past the junction was limited by the endoscope diameter (3.8 mm) and anatomical flexure.
• The 1.9 mm flexible ureteroscope could visualize the entire biliary tree, including the major duodenal papilla, in a large dog (43.8 kg).
• Endoscopic tools (e.g., 3 Fr grasping forceps) could be passed through the working channel only after removing the irrigation line.
• Standard biopsy forceps were incompatible with the disposable endoscope's 1.2 mm working channel.
• Cadaver study showed no rupture, but clinical extrapolation is limited due to lack of diseased tissue.
• Disposable endoscope setup cost (~$6,100) was significantly lower than traditional endoscopy systems (~$75,000–100,000), improving accessibility.

🔍 Key Findings

• Use of smoke evacuators reduced ultrafine particle concentrations by 56.4% during approach to the proximal tibia for TPLO in dogs.
• Mean intraoperative particle concentrations were significantly higher in surgeries without smoke evacuation (1352 ppc vs. 763 ppc, P < .0001).
• Maximum particle concentrations were six times higher without smoke evacuation (62,450 ppc vs. 10,100 ppc, P < .0001).
• Particle counts increased above baseline regardless of evacuator use, confirming electrosurgery contributes substantially to airborne particles.
• Surgeons noted reduced odor and health concerns when using the smoke evacuator, despite initial visibility limitations due to pencil attachment.
• Standard surgical masks do not protect against ultrafine particles, underscoring the importance of smoke mitigation systems.
• The smoke-evacuation unit did not eliminate all ultrafine particles, suggesting optimization (e.g., higher power setting) may be beneficial.
• This is the first clinical veterinary study to measure surgical smoke reduction using evacuators during TPLO.

🔍 Key Findings

Source: Bush et al., 2023, Veterinary Surgery

• Median survival time (MST) after surgery was 1886 days, which is significantly longer than previously reported.
• Lymph node metastasis at surgery was a negative prognostic factor, reducing MST to 248 days (vs. 2340 days without nodal involvement).
• Local recurrence occurred in 42% of dogs, with a median disease-free interval (DFI) of 191 days.
• Metastatic disease occurred in 32% of dogs, most commonly to the lungs, with a median DFI of 299 days.
• Histologic features (e.g., margin status, capsular, lymphatic, or vascular invasion) were not significantly correlated with recurrence or metastasis.
• Facial nerve injury occurred in 9.7% perioperatively, especially after parotidectomy; intraoperative facial nerve transection led to long-term deficits.
• Adjuvant therapies (chemotherapy, radiation, NSAIDs) did not significantly affect survival time.
• Incisional biopsy was only 38% concordant with final excisional histology, suggesting limited reliability for definitive diagnosis.

🔍 Key Findings

Design: Ex vivo cadaver study (n=8 dogs, 24 sites)
Comparison: Freehand vs. 3D-printed drill guide-assisted ventral slot (GAVS vs FHVS)
Findings:

• GAVS produced slots not significantly different from planned dimensions (p = .722–.875)
• FHVS produced significantly shorter slots than intended (p < .01)
• No difference in surgical time (p = .071)
• Shape ratio and slot divergence from midline were similar between groups (p > .4)
• Use of guide significantly reduced variability in slot position (63% → 29%), shape (65% → 24%), and divergence (54% → 50%)

Conclusion: 3D-printed guides improved accuracy and consistency of ventral slot creation by novice surgeons; supports future evaluation in live dogs and small breeds

🔍 Key Findings

• Fascial planes in dogs were consistently classifiable into four surgical types:
• Type I (discrete sheets), Type II (tightly adhered to thin muscle), Type III (tightly adhered to thick muscle), and Type IV (periosteum-associated).
• Two junction types were identified: Type A (easily elevated) and Type B (higher risk of disruption).
• Disruption-prone areas include the scapular spine (type IV fascia) and lateral thorax near the 13th rib, where rib resection may be needed to preserve margins.
• The latissimus dorsi transition zones and fascial areas near the thoracic inlet and scapulohumeral joint were prone to fascial thinning or disruption.
• Partial muscle resections or periosteal elevations may be required in areas with fragile fascia to maintain oncologic margins.
• Dorsal spinous processes (T6–L6) showed type IV fascia; however, osteotomy may be needed in some dogs for clear margins.
• Blended fascial transitions (e.g., rectus abdominis: type II cranially, type I caudally) necessitate intraoperative judgment on resection depth.
• Cutaneous trunci may suffice as a deep margin for small, low-grade tumors in well-muscled dogs, but not reliably for high-grade or larger masses.

🔍 Key Findings

• Ex vivo study using 24 canine cadaver pelves to test screw thread direction in SI luxation.
• Four groups: RhRSI, RhLSI, LhRSI, LhLSI.
• Right-handed screws on right side (RhRSI) had 313% higher torque and 274% higher load vs left side (p < .01).
• Left-handed screws on left side (LhLSI) had 198% higher torque and 195% higher load vs right side (p < .03).
• All failures occurred due to rotation, with no screw breakage or fractures.
• Body weight and moment arm were similar across groups.
• Clinical implication: Use of screw matching handedness to luxation side improves stability.

🔍 Key Findings

• 20.6% of dogs had a preoperative prolongation in PT or aPTT, but only 5.6% had both prolonged.
• Hemangiosarcoma was the only tumor type significantly associated with both PT and aPTT prolongation (37.5% of hemangiosarcoma cases, p < .001).
• Dogs with both PT and aPTT prolongations were 6.5× more likely to have emergency surgery (p < .001) and 2.5× more likely to have hemoabdomen (p = .0022).
• 60% of dogs with both PT and aPTT prolongation required blood transfusion (p < .001).
• Only 1.9% of all dogs had both PT and aPTT prolonged by >25%, suggesting limited clinical utility of routine PT/aPTT testing.
• Platelet count <50,000/μL was rare (1.5%) and not associated with PT/aPTT changes or transfusions.
• Routine PT/aPTT testing offers low diagnostic yield in elective liver lobectomy cases.
• Authors recommend case-by-case PT/aPTT screening, especially when hemangiosarcoma or bleeding tendencies are suspected.

🔍 Key Findings

• Single-port laparoscopic-assisted cryptorchidectomy (SP-LAC) was feasible in 13/14 dogs with abdominal cryptorchidism.
• Median surgical time was 17 min for unilateral and 27 min for bilateral cryptorchidectomy.
• All testes were successfully exteriorized through a 15-mm mini-celiotomy in most dogs; only 2 needed slight enlargement.
• One major complication occurred (testicular artery hemorrhage, requiring conversion to open surgery).
• Two minor complications involved trocar-related issues (splenic capsule laceration, capnoretroperitoneum).
• No incisional complications were reported postoperatively; some dogs had mild dermatitis at the clipped site.
• The technique requires only one surgeon and no advanced tools beyond a single-port endoscope.
• Low-pressure capnoperitoneum (6 mmHg) was adequate for visualization in most cases.

🔍 Key Findings

• Ectopic ureters in cats are rare, but most are extramural and bilateral.
• Surgical techniques used included ureteroneocystostomy (UNC), neoureterostomy (NU), nephroureterectomy, and cystoscopic laser ablation (CLA).
• All cats showed improvement in urinary continence postoperatively, with 11/12 achieving complete resolution.
• Major complications were rare; one cat developed uroabdomen requiring revision surgery.
• Diagnostic imaging was effective, with abdominal ultrasound diagnosing 8/10 and CT 3/3 cases.
• Short- and long-term complications included urethral spasms, UTIs, stranguria, and rectal prolapse; all were manageable.
• CLA was successful in 2 cats and is noted as a first-time described technique in feline ectopic ureter cases.
• Median postoperative follow-up was 340 days, supporting good long-term outcomes.