Quiz Question
In Tobias 2025 et al., on frontal sinus mucoceles, what was concluded about the role of guaifenesin in post-op management of mucoceles?
🔍 Key Findings
- Frontal sinus mucoceles occurred in young dogs, often linked to prior skull trauma by 10 months of age.
- All dogs presented with expansile, fluid-filled lesions causing facial swelling; CT showed multicentric bone erosion, including the frontal bone and cribriform plate.
- Surgical options included frontal sinusotomy with either sinus lining ablation or re-establishment of nasofrontal drainage, with or without stenting.
- Nasofrontal stenting led to long-term resolution in most dogs, although recurrence occurred in 4/8 dogs, requiring revision surgery in 3.
- Complications were minor and included swelling or nasal discharge; no intraoperative complications were reported.
- Histology confirmed sterile mucoceles with neutrophilic inflammation and mucin, and cultures were negative in all cases.
- Guaifenesin was used postoperatively in several cases to reduce mucus viscosity; its benefit is unproven in dogs but may support drainage.
Veterinary Surgery
6
2025
Clinical findings and outcomes of eight dogs with surgically treated frontal sinus mucoceles
2025-6-VS-tobias-5
In Latifi 2022 et al., on forelimb fascial mapping, which statement is TRUE regarding nerve transection during tumor resection?
🔍 Key Findings
- Fascia was present over most of the canine forelimb, but key areas like the elbow, carpus, and manus lacked robust fascial planes for wide resection.
- Type I fascia (discrete sheet) was primarily found in the antebrachium, with type IV (periosteal) fascia located at the olecranon, scapular spine, and accessory carpal bone.
- Distal antebrachial fascia was thin and adherent, often blending with carpal structures and lacking reliable surgical planes.
- Partial tenectomy or joint capsule resection was often required for wide excision in the distal limb, especially over the triceps tendon and carpus.
- Nerve transections (e.g., superficial radial or ulnar branches) were commonly needed to maintain fascial margins, though often with minimal functional loss due to overlapping innervation.
- Digital and metacarpal pads lacked clear deep fascial borders, making digit amputation necessary for oncologic margins in distal tumors.
- Dissections revealed fascial junctions as either Type A (easily separable) or Type B (risk of disruption), guiding resection plane selection.
- Findings provide a surgical map to guide preoperative planning for superficial tumor excision on the forelimb.
Veterinary Surgery
1
2022
Fascial plane mapping for superficial tumor resection in dogs. Part II: Forelimb
2022-1-VS-latifi-4
In Enright 2022 et al., on adrenalectomy outcomes, which of the following best describes the association between alpha-blocker use and intraoperative hypertension?
🔍 Key Findings
- 83% of dogs survived to discharge after adrenalectomy for pheochromocytoma.
- Median survival time post-discharge was 1169 days (3.2 years).
- Preoperative alpha-blocker therapy (e.g., phenoxybenzamine) was not associated with improved survival.
- Dogs receiving alpha-blockers had higher intraoperative systolic BP, with median values 170 mmHg vs. 142 mmHg in non-treated dogs (P = .01).
- Intraoperative arrhythmias occurred in 30% of cases, with no difference between dogs receiving alpha-blockers and those not.
- Histologic vascular invasion occurred in ~70% of tumors.
- Tumor recurrence was suspected in 3 dogs, and metastasis in 8 dogs, though not histologically confirmed in most cases.
- Postoperative complications included refractory hypotension, acute kidney injury, and hypertension persisting >48 hours in 10 dogs.
Veterinary Surgery
3
2022
Short‐ and long‐term survival after adrenalectomy in 53 dogs with pheochromocytomas with or without alpha‐blocker therapy
2022-3-VS-enright-3
In Wood 2024 et al., on knot security and locking throws, which knot type had the highest failure load regardless of locking status?
🔍 Key Findings
- Adding a single locking throw significantly increased holding security for specific knots, including the surgeon's throw (p = .0001) and square throw (p = .0002).
- For the Miller's throw (p = .166) and strangle throw (p = .808), no significant improvement was observed with a locking throw.
- After locking throw addition, all five knots leaked at similar pressures (p = .5233), and these pressures exceeded physiologic arterial pressures.
- Surgeon's throw without a locking throw had the lowest leak pressure (62.5 ± 46.2 mm Hg), below physiologic arterial values.
- The square throw without locking also leaked below physiologic pressures (148.7 ± 109.4 mm Hg), though it outperformed the surgeon's throw.
- Miller’s and strangle throws performed significantly better than square or surgeon’s throws without locking, achieving leak pressures >200 mm Hg.
- All knots used 2-0 polyglyconate monofilament (Maxon); no comparisons across suture types or sizes were performed.
- Authors concluded that correct tensioning and locking throw addition are key to safe vascular ligation. Miller’s, strangle, or slip knots are preferred for challenging surgical fields.
Veterinary Surgery
4
2024
Influence of a single locking throw on the in vitro holding security of five friction knots using two monofilament suture materials in a canine model
2024-4-VS-wood-1
In Guénégo 2025 et al., on AMA-based CCWO, what was the surgical site infection (SSI) rate observed?
🔍 Key Findings
- AMA-based CCWO realigned the anatomical and mechanical axes in 82% of dogs >50 kg, with postoperative AMA angle of 0° in most cases.
- Surgical site infection (SSI) rate was only 0.5%, markedly lower than TPLO-reported rates in similar populations (up to 37.5%).
- All osteotomies achieved Grade 4 healing by 8 weeks, with no implant failures.
- AMA-based planning based on preoperative AMA and TPA allowed for better correction of proximal tibial angulation compared to TPLO in large dogs.
- Use of a double locking plate (DLP) fixation and Robert Jones bandage (RJB) contributed to improved mechanical stability and infection prevention.
- Dogs with AMA angle >3.4° (hyper-CCAPT) were 38% of the cohort, supporting AMA as a critical metric in planning.
- Postoperative alignment of the AA and MA was more consistently achieved when preoperative AMA was >2.4°, confirming suitability of AMA-based CCWO for severe angulation.
- Most infections in TPLOs occur within 15 days, but RJB plus antibiotics in this study appeared protective, suggesting benefit for early-phase SSI prevention.
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology
3
2025
Modified Cranial Closing Wedge Osteotomy (AMA-Based CCWO) to Treat Cranial Cruciate Ligament Deficient Stifle in 204 Dogs Over 50 Kg
2025-3-VCOT-guenego-2
In Maeta 2022 et al., on total cystectomy in cats, which ureter developed obstruction 14 months postoperatively?
🔍 Key Findings
- First reported case of total cystectomy and bilateral cutaneous ureterostomy in a cat using a modified Toyoda technique.
- Histologically complete tumor resection was achieved, with tumor-free ureter and urethral margins >20 mm.
- The modified Toyoda technique involved shaping the ureter into a fish-mouth aperture and anastomosing it to a rectangular skin defect for stomal formation.
- Incontinence was managed using a diaper changed every 6–8 hours, with no dermatological complications.
- Obstruction of the right ureter occurred 14 months post-op, associated with a subcutaneous nodule at the anastomosis site.
- Despite incontinence, owner satisfaction and perceived quality of life were high, with the cat living ~16 months post-op.
- The stents were removed on days 7 (left) and 28 (right) postoperatively, with initial patency maintained until 14 months.
- This surgical approach may offer palliative or curative benefit for feline trigonal TCC where partial cystectomy is not feasible.
Veterinary Surgery
8
2022
Modified Toyoda technique for total cystectomy and cutaneous ureterostomy in a cat
2022-8-VS-maeta-3
In Kikuchi 2025 et al., on arthroscopic MMI in toy breeds, what arthroscopic finding was associated with **severe** meniscal injury?
🔍 Key Findings
- Medial meniscus injury (MMI) occurred in 36.3% of stifles with CrCLR in toy breed dogs (<5 kg)
- Complete CrCLR was significantly associated with MMI (15.3% of complete vs. 3.4% of partial)
- Severe lameness (grade 3) increased the likelihood of MMI compared to mild lameness (grade 1)
- Higher body weight, even within the toy breed range, was positively associated with MMI
- Yorkshire Terriers had the highest MMI incidence (55.6%), but this was not a significant independent factor due to multicollinearity
- Arthroscopy identified more meniscal damage (including small radial tears and bucket-handle lesions) than gross examination might detect
- MMI was classified as mild (radial tear) or severe (bucket-handle or flap) with implications for partial meniscectomy
- Arthroscopy was used in all cases, underscoring its utility in small-breed stifle assessment
Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology
5
2025
Incidence of Medial Meniscus Injury Detected by Arthroscopy in Toy Breed Dogs
2025-5-VCOT-kikuchi-3
In Dickerson 2023 et al., on surgical outcomes in hepatic abscessation, what was the most commonly identified bacterial isolate?
🔍 Key Findings
- Liver lobectomy was the most common treatment (27/36 dogs), with multiple lobes removed in ~1/3 of cases.
- Septic peritonitis was present in 21/23 sampled dogs, making it a frequent complication.
- Perioperative complications occurred in 21/36 dogs, including aspiration pneumonia, pancreatitis, and acute kidney injury.
- Intraoperative hypotension was common (32/36), often requiring vasopressors or colloids.
- Mortality prior to discharge was 21% (8/38), with deaths related to sepsis, aspiration pneumonia, and multi-organ dysfunction.
- Median survival time was 638 days in dogs surviving to discharge.
- No recurrence of hepatic abscessation was observed in the surviving population.
- E. coli and Clostridium spp. were the most commonly cultured organisms, often as single-agent infections.
Veterinary Surgery
1
2023
Outcome in 38 dogs surgically treated for hepatic abscessation
2023-1-VS-dickerson-2
In Rocheleau 2024 et al., on arthroscopic meniscal suturing, what was the overall complication rate?
🔍 Key Findings
- Arthroscopic meniscal suturing was performed in 43 client-owned dogs, involving 44 meniscal repairs (one dog was bilateral). All injuries involved the caudal horn of the medial meniscus and were associated with cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) disease.
- All dogs underwent simultaneous TPLO, with some also receiving an internal brace (IB). Most repairs used simple vertical mattress sutures.
- The overall complication rate was 34.1% (15/44). Most complications were attributed to the TPLO/TPLO+IB and did not compromise the meniscal repair outcome.
- No median time to “acceptable” or “full” function was reported, but most dogs showed improvement in lameness and LOAD scores (p < .001), indicating good to excellent outcomes.
- Meniscal repair success rate was 88% (38/44), with TPLO + IB outperforming TPLO-only (93.3% vs 71.4%). Follow-up was performed at 8 weeks (40 dogs) and 6 months (16 dogs).
- Six failures occurred, all managed with arthroscopic meniscectomy, leading to normal activity in those dogs. Two IB-associated failures led to CrCL instability.
- The authors concluded the technique was safe, practical, and effective, with a reasonable complication rate.
- The findings support arthroscopic suturing as a feasible alternative to meniscectomy or meniscal release, offering long-term benefits for preserving the meniscus.
Veterinary Surgery
5
2024
Short‐term outcomes of 43 dogs treated with arthroscopic suturing for meniscal tears
2024-5-VS-rocheleau-2
In Berthomé 2025 et al., on prophylactic fenestration in cervical IVDE, which statement best describes complication rates between PF and non-PF groups?
🔍 Key Findings
- Prophylactic fenestration (PF) significantly reduced recurrence of cervical intervertebral disc extrusion (0% vs. 37.8%, p < .001).
- Surgery time was longer with PF (median 182 vs. 110 min, p = .017), but no difference in perioperative complication rates (PF 16.7%, non-PF 18.9%; p = .838).
- 25% overall recurrence rate, but all recurrences occurred in the non-PF group.
- Medical management was effective in 92.9% of recurrence cases.
- Most PF sites targeted adjacent discs; 88.9% were at adjacent levels, which are common recurrence sites.
- Neurologic outcomes were similar between PF and non-PF dogs post-surgery and at follow-up.
- Fenestration technique (blade vs. burr) not shown to affect outcome but contributed to extended surgical time.
- No major complications or deaths linked directly to PF in initial surgeries.
Veterinary Surgery
6
2025
Recurrence of cervical intervertebral disc extrusion in 55 dogs after surgical decompression with or without prophylactic fenestration
2025-6-VS-berthome-4
Quiz Results
You answered 7 out of 10 questions correctly
Key Findings