Use of liposomal bupivacaine in dogs and cats undergoing gastrointestinal surgery is not associated with a higher rate of surgical site infections or multidrug-resistant infections.

OBJECTIVE: To report the rate of surgical site infections (SSIs) after clean-contaminated and dirty gastrointestinal surgery in dogs and cats that did and did not receive incisional infiltration of Nocita and report the bacteria isolated. ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs (n = 211) and cats (78). METHODS: Records of dogs and cats that underwent gastrointestinal surgery at the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Florida Small Animal Hospital between July 1, 2020, and April 1, 2023, were reviewed for surgical procedures, presence of preoperative septic peritonitis, use of Nocita, perioperative antibiotics administered, postoperative antibiotic use, SSI development postoperatively, and aerobic bacteria isolated. RESULTS: 7 of 124 (5.6%) dogs that received Nocita and 9 of 87 (10.2%) that did not receive Nocita developed an SSI. No dogs presenting with septic peritonitis and given Nocita (n = 5) developed an SSI. Two of 55 (3.6%) cats that received Nocita and 1 of 23 (4%) that did not receive Nocita developed an SSI. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli was the most common aerobic bacteria isolated from SSIs (n = 3), and MDR bacteria were isolated commonly from both groups (4). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Use of Nocita for gastrointestinal surgery in dogs and cats is not associated with higher rates of SSI than published rates of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery. Use of Nocita in dogs with preoperative septic peritonitis is not associated with the development of SSI. MDR bacteria are commonly isolated via culture from both dogs that received Nocita and those that did not.

Evaluation of cementless femoral stem level on mediolateral projection radiographs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of measuring cementless femoral stem level on mediolateral projection radiographs. STUDY DESIGN: Benchtop cadaveric. SAMPLE POPULATION: Twelve canine cadaver femurs. METHODS: Cementless femoral stems were inserted into 12 canine cadaver femurs at three levels of subsidence. Mediolateral radiographs were obtained for each femur at 0°, 10°, and - 10° frontal plane angulation and at 0°, 15°, 30°, -15°, and - 30° axial plane rotation. Stem level was measured physically on specimens and on radiographs, and a proportion was used to calculate corrected stem level. Stem level was assessed relative to the greater trochanter and relative to the intertrochanteric fossa. Analysis of variance tests were used to compare actual, radiographically measured, and corrected stem level. RESULTS: No differences were detected between radiographically measured and actual stem level relative to the greater trochanter at 0°, 15°, 30°, and - 30° axial rotation with 0° frontal plane angulation; introduction of 10° or - 10° frontal plane angulation resulted in differences between radiographically measured and actual stem level. Errors >0.5 mm were observed in 82% of radiographic measurements on the basis of the intertrochanteric fossa. The use of a corrective proportion did not improve the accuracy of radiographic measurements. CONCLUSION: Femoral stem level was accurately quantitated on mediolateral projection radiographs in this cadaver model. Frontal plane angulation distorted this measurement. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Femoral stem subsidence may be assessed on well-positioned mediolateral projection radiographs if the landmarks are visible.