Comparison of conventional ligatures and a vessel sealing device for haemostasis during open ovariohysterectomy in rabbits.

AIMS: To compare surgical times and rates of intra-operative and post-operative complications for open ovariohysterectomy (OVH) in female rabbits using conventional ligatures or a vessel sealing device (VSD) for haemostasis. METHODS: Female pet rabbits (n = 23) presented for OVH for either desexing or treatment of reproductive disorders were randomly assigned to a conventional ligatures (CL) group (n = 12) or a LigaSure 5-mm (LS5) group (n = 11). In the CL group, the ovarian pedicles were ligated with a single surgeon's knot. After transection of the ovarian pedicles, the broad ligament was manually broken down along the uterine horns to their respective cervices. In the LS5 group, both ovarian pedicles and the broad ligaments were sealed with a LigaSure Dolphin Tip VSD with 5-mm forceps. All the rabbits were hospitalised for 24 hours after surgery. Two weeks after discharge, a clinical recheck examination was performed. Incision length, overall surgical time (from initial incision to completion of intradermal suturing), OVH time (from identification of the first ovary to transection of the vaginal vault), and intra- and post-operative complications were recorded and compared between groups, using the Student's t-test for normally distributed continuous data, the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test for non-normally distributed continuous data and Pearson's χ2 test for categorical data. RESULTS: The mean overall surgical time was 14.1 (SD 4.4) minutes. The surgery took 15.0 (SD 4.9) minutes in the CL group and 13.1 (SD 3.8) minutes in the LS5 group (p=0.10). The OVH time was shorter in the LS5 group (mean 4.2 (SD 0.9) minutes) than in the CL group (mean 6.3 (SD 1.7) minutes; p = 0.005). No intra-operative complications were encountered in the LS5 group. Haemorrhage occurred in three rabbits in the CL group. One rabbit in the LS5 group developed steatonecrosis post-operatively. There was no evidence of a difference in the proportion of rabbits that experienced intra- and post-operative complications (p = 0.25 and p = 0.94 respectively) between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a LigaSure 5-mm VSD and conventional ligatures during open OVH were both associated with similar overall surgical times and complication rates. The OVH times were shorter in the LS5 group compared to the CL group. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Use of the LigaSure 5-mm VSD allows efficient haemostasis while performing open OVH in female pet rabbits.

Surgical findings and clinical outcome after bilateral repair of apparently unilateral perineal hernias in dogs.

OBJECTIVES: To report the short- and long-term outcomes and recurrence rate in dogs treated for apparently unilateral perineal hernia with bilateral herniorrhaphy, castration, colopexy, vas deferens pexy with or without cystopexy in single-stage procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one client-owned dogs with apparently unilateral perineal hernia were included. Perineal hernias were repaired bilaterally, incorporating internal obturator muscle transposition and the sacro-tuberal ligament, combined with colopexy, vas deferens pexy with or without cystopexy. Preoperative pattern of defaecation, pattern of micturition and rectal alignment were recorded. Surgical time, bilateral surgical perineal findings, postoperative complications, short-, middle- and long-term (>24 months) scores and recurrence rate were documented. RESULTS: A hernia with ectopic tissue and weakness of the pelvic diaphragm was identified bilaterally in all dogs despite the unilateral clinical presentation. The procedure combination was achieved uneventfully in all dogs in 56 to 113 minutes (mean 73 minutes). Complication rate was low, consisting mostly of urinary disorders, most of which resolved within a few days. In all, 93% of dogs were free of clinical signs related to perineal hernia at long-term follow-up (mean 27 months). Recurrence rate was 0%. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Our surgical findings suggest that perineal hernia in dogs might be considered a bilateral disease, even when the presentation is of apparently unilateral signs. Recurrence is rare following bilateral herniorrhaphy combined with colopexy and deferens pexy with or without cystopexy.