Surgical treatment of persistent right aortic arch with combined ligamentum arteriosum transection and esophageal diverticulum resection in three dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the treatment of persistent right aortic arch (PRAA) in dogs with combined ligamentum arteriosum (LA) transection and esophageal diverticulum resection. ANIMALS: Three client owned dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Short case series. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed for clinical signs, diagnostic procedures, surgical treatment, post-operative therapies including medications and feeding regime, outcomes, and follow-up imaging. RESULTS: Esophageal resection was performed using a thoracoabdominal (TA) stapler with suture overlay. All dogs recovered well from surgery and did not experience any peri- or post-operative complications. The last follow-up was performed between 64 and 1004 days post-operatively. In all cases, regurgitation resolved and did not recur in any dogs. No dogs required medical therapy or dietary modifications. In two cases, follow-up imaging was performed that revealed marked improvement of esophageal dilation. CONCLUSION: Resection of esophageal diverticulum secondary to PRAA utilizing a TA stapler with suture overlay was technically feasible and did not seem associated with early or late complications.

Laparoscopic-assisted cystotomy for urolith removal in dogs and cats - 23 cases.

This report describes the outcomes of a modified laparoscopic-assisted cystotomy for urolith removal in dogs and cats. Modifications of the original techniques included a temporary cystopexy to the abdominal wall, utilization of a laparoscope instead of cystoscope, and retrograde flow of saline in the bladder with pressurized saline. The medical records of 23 client-owned animals for which laparoscopic-assisted cystotomy was used for urolith extraction were reviewed. Twenty-six procedures were performed in 23 animals. There were intraoperative complications in 19.2% of cases leading to open conversion in 11.5%. Rate of complications directly related to the procedure was 11.5%. Four cases had documented urolith recurrence with a mean time to recurrence of 335 days.

Cystotomie assistée par laparoscopie pour l'enlèvement des urolithes chez les chiens et les chats ­ 23 cas. Ce rapport décrit les résultats d'une cystotomie assistée par laparoscopie pour l'enlèvement des urolithes chez les chiens et les chats. Les modifications des techniques originales ont inclus une cystopexie temporaire à la paroi abdominale et un flux rétrograde de la solution saline dans la vessie avec une solution saline sous pression. Les dossiers médicaux de 23 animaux appartenant à des propriétaires pour lesquels la cystotomie par laparoscopie avait été utilisée pour l'extraction des urolithes ont été examinés. Vingt-six interventions ont été réalisées chez 23 animaux. Il y a eu des complications peropératoires dans 19,2 % des cas causant une conversion ouverte à 11,5 %. Le taux des complications directement reliées à l'intervention était de 11,5 %. Pour quatre cas, il y a eu une récurrence documentée des urolithes avec une durée moyenne de 335 jours.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Ex vivo comparison of one versus two distal screws in 8 mm model 11 interlocking nails used to stabilize canine distal femoral fractures.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the structural properties of an 8 mm model 11 interlocking nail (IN) with 2 proximal and 2 distal screws (2/2) to 2 proximal and 1 distal screws (2/1) in an unstable canine fracture model. STUDY DESIGN: Ex vivo biomechanical investigation. SAMPLE POPULATION: Eight pairs of adult canine femurs. METHODS: A simple transverse distal metaphyseal femoral fracture with a 1 cm gap was created. The unstable fracture in 1 femur was repaired with a nail with 2 distal and 2 proximal screws and the paired femur with a nail with 1 distal and 2 proximal screws. Cyclic mechanical testing in torsion was performed to assess fatigue life, peak torque, stiffness, and mode of failure. RESULTS: All 2/1 IN-femoral constructs, but only 2 of eight 2/2 constructs, failed before completion of 50,000 loading cycles. The 2/2 constructs had significantly greater peak torque to failure (P = .002) and longer fatigue life (P = .00003) compared with 2/1 constructs. There were no significant differences in stiffness between 2/2 and 2/1 constructs when the non-failed constructs were compared (P > .5). All constructs failed by screw deformation. CONCLUSIONS: An 8 mm model 11 IN used for fixation of unstable canine distal femoral fractures has a longer fatigue life and is stronger under torsional loads when 2 rather than 1 distal screws are placed. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: When repairing unstable canine distal femoral fractures with an IN system, 2 distal screws should be inserted to avoid catastrophic implant failure before bone healing is achieved.

Use of a plate-rod construct and principles of biological osteosynthesis for repair of diaphyseal fractures in dogs and cats: 47 cases (1994-2001).

OBJECTIVE: To determine outcome for dogs and cats with diaphyseal fractures in which a plate-rod construct was used for fracture repair. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 35 dogs and 12 cats. PROCEDURES: Medical records and radiographs were reviewed to obtain information concerning signalment, fracture severity, construct design, time to radiographic union, complications, and outcome. Clients were contacted by telephone to obtain information on complications, limb usage, and overall satisfaction with the procedure. RESULTS: 31 femoral, 9 humeral, and 7 tibial fractures were assessed. Thirteen fractures consisted of 2 fragments, 22 consisted of 3 to 5 fragments, and 12 consisted of > 5 fragments. Forty-six of 47 (98%) fractures reached union. Mean +/- SD times to radiographic union were 7.5 +/- 2.7 weeks for the dogs and 4.8 +/- 1.3 weeks for the cats. There were 4 short-term, minor complications and 15 long-term complications (2 major and 13 minor). Owners of 21 of 30 dogs (70%) and 9 of 12 cats reported that their animals had normal limb function. Twenty-six of 28 dog owners (93%) and 12 of 12 cat owners indicated that they were satisfied with results of the procedure. As surgery time increased, time to union also increased. Time to union for fractures with > 5 fragments was significantly shorter than time to union for fractures with < or = 5 fragments. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that plate-rod constructs can successfully be used for repair of diaphyseal fractures of a wide range of severity in dogs and cats.