Advantages of laparoscopic-assisted ovariohysterectomy versus open ovariohysterectomy for dogs with pyometra not detected in randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare results for surgery time, perioperative pain, need for rescue analgesia, variables, serum C-reactive protein concentration, and postoperative complications for dogs with pyometra treated with laparoscopic-assisted ovariohysterectomy (LaOVH) versus open-surgery (OS) ovariohysterectomy. ANIMALS: 12 client-owned dogs with pyometra between June 1, 2016, and December 31, 2019. METHODS: Dogs enrolled in this prospective single-center randomized clinical trial had pyometra confirmed by history, physical examination, ultrasonography, and blood work and were randomly assigned to treatment group LaOVH or OS. Differences in results for variables of interest were compared between groups using the Mann-Whitney U test, except the number of dogs requiring rescue analgesia was analyzed using the Fisher exact test. Values of P ≤ .05 were considered significant. RESULTS: 6 dogs were recruited in each group; results for 1 dog in the LaOVH group were excluded from further analysis due to free abdominal fluid detected during surgery. Median surgery time was significantly shorter and median total incision length was longer for the OS group (23 minutes; 106 mm), compared to the LaOVH group (37 minutes; 38 mm). No other results differed significantly between groups. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although fewer patients in the LaOVH group required rescue analgesia, this was not statistically significant. Therefore, our results could not prove previously suggested advantages of LaOVH (eg, less perioperative pain or faster recovery) in dogs with pyometra. Additionally, for the LaOVH group, the median surgical time was approximately 50% longer, an assistant was needed, and specialized equipment was required.

Laparoscopic ovariectomy in a dog with type III sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis and literature review.

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis is a rare and not well-recognized disease in veterinary medicine. A 14-month-old female intact mixed-breed dog was diagnosed with sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP) at the age of 5 months after a routine work-up including biopsies from an exploratory laparotomy. Symptomatic treatment with an immunosuppressive dose of prednisolone was started, but dose reduction was unsuccessful. Combined treatment with tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator used for its TGF-ß1 suppression of fibroblasts was discussed; the owner was informed about the risk for developing a pyometra. About one year later the owner wanted to spay her dog and an ovariectomy was recommended, especially due to the extensive adhesions. A laparoscopic approach was chosen to reduce the amount of intraoperative tissue manipulation and inflammation, as well as to minimize the size of the incision. The dog continues to be doing well one year after surgery and prednisolone could be reduced to a low maintenance dose after surgery; so far, the addition of tamoxifen was not required. In selected cases, laparoscopy appears as a safe alternative in patients with adhesions, but the surgeon should always be prepared to convert in case of impaired vision, especially in the absence of tactile sensation. This case report is the first description of laparoscopy in a dog with SEP. Laparoscopy may serve as an easily accomplished minimally invasive method to diagnose SEP, but further studies are required.

The development of ventricular fibrillation as a complication of pericardiectomy in 16 dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical characteristics, perioperative protocols, and outcomes in dogs diagnosed with ventricular fibrillation (VF) while undergoing pericardiectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, multi-institutional study. ANIMALS: Sixteen client-owned dogs. METHODS: Cases were accrued through a listserve request posted to 3 subspecialty veterinary societies. Dogs were included if they developed VF during a pericardiectomy performed through an open or thoracoscopic approach. Data collected included signalment, history and physical examination, surgical approach, histopathology, treatment, and outcome. RESULTS: Indications for pericardiectomy included idiopathic chylothorax (n = 7), neoplasia (4), idiopathic pericardial effusion (4), and foreign body granuloma (1). Surgical approaches included thoracoscopy (12), intercostal thoracotomy (3) and median sternotomy (1). Electrosurgical devices were used to complete at least part of the pericardiectomy in 15 of 16 dogs. Ventricular fibrillation appeared to be initiated during electrosurgical use in 8/15 dogs. However, in 5/15 dogs it was not obviously associated with electrosurgical use. In 3/16 dogs the timing of initiation of VF was unclear. In 7/16 dogs, cardiac arrhythmias were noted prior to the development of VF. Fourteen of 16 dogs died from intraoperative VF. CONCLUSION: In most dogs ventricular fibrillation was a fatal complication of pericardiectomy. Ventricular fibrillation might be associated with the use of electrosurgical devices and cardiac manipulation during pericardiectomy although a causal link could not be established from the data in this study. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Surgeons must be aware of the risk of VF during pericardial surgery. Electrosurgery might need to be used judiciously during pericardiectomy, particularly in dogs exhibiting cardiac arrythmias.

Malakoplakia of the urinary bladder in a young French Bulldog.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 4-month-old 5.9-kg sexually intact female French Bulldog was presented because of recurrent urinary tract infections in combination with pollakiuria, hematuria, and urinary incontinence. CLINICAL FINDINGS: A diagnosis of malakoplakia was made on the basis of results of hematologic and serum biochemical testing, abdominal ultrasonography, bacterial culture, and cystoscopic biopsies of the urinary bladder wall. Biopsy samples were sent for routine histologic examination and fluorescence in situ hybridization to confirm the presence of intracellular and subendothelial bacteria. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Treatment with enrofloxacin was started after the diagnosis of malakoplakia was confirmed. During treatment, polypoid changes in the urinary bladder decreased dramatically but did not disappear. On follow-up ultrasonography after 12 weeks of treatment, marked improvement was visible and results of repeated bacterial culture and fluorescence in situ hybridization of bladder wall samples were negative. The patient was free from clinical signs and had an ultrasonographically normal urinary bladder 59 weeks after antimicrobial treatment was discontinued. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Malakoplakia, a granulomatous disease characterized by impaired histiocytes that are unable to completely digest phagocytized bacteria, is a very rare disease in dogs, but early suspicion of the condition is essential to allow timely diagnosis and avoid disease progression and the need for prolonged treatment. Malakoplakia should be considered in young dogs with chronic urinary tract infections; the diagnosis can be made through a combination of histologic examination and fluorescence in situ hybridization of bladder wall biopsy samples.

Laparoscopic repositioning of an obstructed ventriculoperitoneal shunt catheter with laparoscopy-assisted partial omentectomy and omentopexy.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of laparoscopy for repositioning of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) catheter. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. ANIMAL: One 11-month-old male cairn terrier weighing 5.5 kg. METHODS: The dog had placement of a VPS system for primary hydrocephalus at 4 months of age. Poor functioning of the shunt system was suspected because of deteriorating neurological signs. A contrast study of the VPS system provided evidence of a distal shunt obstruction, and repeated brain computed tomography (CT) was consistent with persistent hydrocephalus. RESULTS: Laparoscopy was used to free the abdominal catheter of the shunt system and perform a partial omentectomy and omentopexy of the remaining omentum. Concurrently, the dog was sterilized. Recovery was routine, and follow-up CT 1 year after repositioning revealed that the hydrocephalus had substantially improved. Results of a contrast study of the VPS system also provided evidence that it was functional. CONCLUSION: Ventriculoperitoneal shunt systems are placed in dogs with primary and secondary hydrocephalus, and complications are quite common, including obstruction, bleeding, infection, and overshunting or undershunting. This is the first published clinical case report in which the repositioning of a VPS catheter with partial omentectomy and omentopexy in a dog are described. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Future studies may be performed to determine whether laparoscopy can be considered as a treatment to assist with safe placement of VPS systems, avoiding misplacement of the shunt system and iatrogenic damage to the viscera and vessels.

Giant Thymoma with Benign Central Cystic Lesions in a 1-Year-Old Pug.

A 14 mo old pug was referred because of a large space occupying mass within the thoracic cavity. The patient was worked up with thoracic radiographs, cytology, and computed tomography. The most likely differential diagnosis was thymoma; therefore, a median sternotomy was performed, and the mass was bluntly dissected from the adjacent tissues. The patient recovered uneventfully from surgery and was discharged the next day. Histopathology diagnosed a thymoma with central cystic lesions. Thymomas usually occur in elderly patients and these patients are usually presented because of paraneoplastic signs. The age and signs at presentation, as well as the histopathologic appearance of the presented patient is quite atypical. According to telephone follow-ups, the patient was doing well 9 mo postoperatively.

Laparoscopic omentalization of a pancreatic cyst in a cat.

CASE DESCRIPTION A 15-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat was examined because of a 1-year history of daily vomiting, which was not associated with food intake. CLINICAL FINDINGS Initial physical examination findings and serial hematologic and serum biochemical results were unremarkable except for the presence of a grade 2/6 left-sided heart murmur and persistent mild azotemia. A well-defined multilobulated cystic structure located between the spleen and left kidney was identified by abdominal ultrasonography. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME Laparoscopic exploration revealed that the cystic structure originated from the left pancreatic limb. With laparoscopic guidance, the structure was percutaneously drained and underwent omentalization. Then, a partial cystectomy was performed to obtain a tissue specimen for histologic evaluation. The vomiting resolved for a short period immediately after surgery and then gradually resumed over 6 months, albeit with less frequency than prior to surgery. The histologic diagnosis was pancreatic cyst. Abdominal ultrasonography performed 6 months after surgery revealed that the original cyst had completely resolved but multiple smaller cysts had developed. The serum feline pancreas-specific lipase activity was not measured before surgery but remained increased from the reference limit following surgery, and chronic pancreatitis was considered the most likely cause of pancreatic cyst formation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Laparoscopic-guided drainage and omentalization of a large pancreatic cyst resulted in a satisfactory outcome for the cat of this report and can be considered an alternative to percutaneous ultrasound-guided cyst drainage and the more invasive laparotomy approach for pancreatic cystectomy with or without omentalization.

[Laparoscopic treatment of hemoabdomen in a dog after prescrotal castration]. / Laparoskopische Behandlung eines Rüden mit Hämoabdomen nach präskrotaler Kastration.

A 2-year-old Bearded Collie was referred for suspected hemoabdomen after prescrotal castration. On presentation the dog was in stable body condition and the hematocrit was within the reference range. Abdominal ultrasound revealed a moderate amount of free corpuscular fluid; therefore the dog was prepared for laparoscopic surgery. A single port access at the umbilicus was performed and insufflation with CO2 started with a pressure of 8 mmHg. Approximately one liter of blood was removed from the abdominal cavity with a suction/irrigation tube to allow inspection of the inguinal rings. The laparoscopic approach allowed excellent visualization of the spermatic cord and testicular vessels, which were then sealed with a vessel-sealing device. After surgery, the dog recovered well and did not develop further complications. This case report shows that laparoscopy is feasible in the event of hemoabdomen after castration in dogs and can be considered as an alternative treatment method in the hands of a surgeon, well experienced in minimally invasive surgery. The experience of this case report raises the question, if hemoabdomen should be no longer considered as an absolute contraindication for laparoscopy and should be considered as a relative contraindication instead.

Comparison of two vessel-sealing devices for laparoscopic-assisted ovariohysterectomy in dogs. / Vergleich zweier Instrumente zur Gefäßversiegelung bei der laparaskopisch-assistierten Ovariohysterektomie der Hündin.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to compare two different vessel-sealing devices (VSD) for laparoscopic-assisted ovariohysterectomy in dogs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this randomized, prospective clinical trial 12 consecutive, client-owned, healthy, intact female dogs of different breeds were included. The dogs had been admitted for elective laparoscopic-assisted ovariohysterectomy and were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. The LigaSure™ was used in one group (n = 6), and the other group was operated using the Caiman® (n = 6). Recorded variables were duration of all surgical steps, number of seals required for transection of each ovarian pedicle, number of previous uses of the VSD, and complications related to each VSD. RESULTS: Transection of the ovarian pedicles using the Caiman® required significantly fewer seals per ovary. However, overall surgical time was not significantly reduced. Intraoperative hemorrhage occurred in both groups but was more common in the LigaSure™ group. Emergency conversion to laparotomy was not required in any case. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The Caiman® can be safely used for laparoscopic-assisted ovariohysterectomy in dogs. In comparison with the Liga Sure™, the Caiman® requires fewer seals to transect ovarian pedicles, owing to the advantages of a longer working length and the first-tip closure mechanism.

Slipped capital femoral epiphysis in 17 Maine Coon cats.

Objectives From May 2009 to January 2015, 208 Maine Coon cats presented to the Tierklinik Hollabrunn - a small animal referral and first-opinion centre - and 17 (8.17%) cats were diagnosed with a slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). Over the same time period, 29 (0.67%) of 4348 cats (all breeds) were diagnosed with SCFE. Methods Clinical and orthopaedic examinations and diagnostic imaging were performed on all affected Maine Coons. Age at first presentation, sex, body weight, body condition score (BCS), unilateral or bilateral manifestation of the disease, activity level and duration of lameness, age at neutering and known family history of disease were recorded. Sixteen of 17 Maine Coons were surgically treated. Surgically removed femoral tissue samples were histologically examined in 13 cases. Results The mean age at first presentation was 21.47 months; male to female ratio was 16:1; mean body weight was 7.5 kg (range 5.3-9.3 kg); and mean BCS was 5.06/9.0. Seven cats were bilaterally affected; the median duration of decreased activity level and lameness was 2 weeks; mean age at neutering was 7.7 months (range 3.0-12.0 months); and four cats were littermates. Fourteen femoral head and neck ostectomies, eight total hip replacements and one primary fixation were performed. All 13 histologically available samples confirmed the diagnosis of SCFE. Conclusions and relevance To date, SCFE has been reported only occasionally in Maine Coon cats. However, the results of this study showed that Maine Coons were approximately 12-fold more likely to develop SCFE than the overall population of cats presenting to the Tierklinik Hollabrunn over the same time period. Male sex, neutering, delayed physeal closure and breed-specific high body weight may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SCFE in Maine Coon cats.

Early Clinical Experience with a Newly Designed Interlocking Nail System-Targon(®) Vet.

OBJECTIVE: To describe early clinical experience with a newly designed interlocking nail system (Targon(®) Vet) in diaphyseal fractures in cats and small dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: Client-owned cats (n=49) and dogs (n=8). METHODS: Fifty-seven consecutive cases (49 cats, 8 dogs) with 60 long bone fractures were included in the study. Follow-up radiographs were scheduled at 4 and 8 weeks and again 6 months postoperatively. The end point for each case was determined radiographically by a healed fracture. Complications were defined as minor or major. Clinical outcome was subjectively assessed by a full orthopedic examination and follow-up radiographs. Descriptive data are reported. RESULTS: Median age of cats was 18 months (range, 3-220 months) and of dogs was 28 months (range, 7-115 months). Median body weight was 3.7 kg (range, 1.67-8.41 kg) for cats and 8.15 kg (range, 2.68-13.6 kg) for dogs. Median radiographic follow-up was 16 weeks. All fractures with follow-up radiographs available (n=46) were healed with no infections reported. A total of 12 postoperative complications occurred: 3 minor (slippage of the locking screws) and 9 major (5 femoral-irritation of the sciatic nerve, stress protection, fracture because of a missed fissure, femoral neck fracture, intra-operative revision with a rod and plate; 4 tibial-3 with protrusion of the distal locking screw through the skin and 1 with in-growth of the intramedullary nail). CONCLUSION: Implantation of the Targon(®) Vet System was feasible in all cases. It provides an alternative system for diaphyseal fracture repair in cats and small dogs.

Fiber array based hyperspectral Raman imaging for chemical selective analysis of malaria-infected red blood cells.

A new setup for Raman spectroscopic wide-field imaging is presented. It combines the advantages of a fiber array based spectral translator with a tailor-made laser illumination system for high-quality Raman chemical imaging of sensitive biological samples. The Gaussian-like intensity distribution of the illuminating laser beam is shaped by a square-core optical multimode fiber to a top-hat profile with very homogeneous intensity distribution to fulfill the conditions of Koehler. The 30 m long optical fiber and an additional vibrator efficiently destroy the polarization and coherence of the illuminating light. This homogeneous, incoherent illumination is an essential prerequisite for stable quantitative imaging of complex biological samples. The fiber array translates the two-dimensional lateral information of the Raman stray light into separated spectral channels with very high contrast. The Raman image can be correlated with a corresponding white light microscopic image of the sample. The new setup enables simultaneous quantification of all Raman spectra across the whole spatial area with very good spectral resolution and thus outperforms other Raman imaging approaches based on scanning and tunable filters. The unique capabilities of the setup for fast, gentle, sensitive, and selective chemical imaging of biological samples were applied for automated hemozoin analysis. A special algorithm was developed to generate Raman images based on the hemozoin distribution in red blood cells without any influence from other Raman scattering. The new imaging setup in combination with the robust algorithm provides a novel, elegant way for chemical selective analysis of the malaria pigment hemozoin in early ring stages of Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes.