B. Van Goethem

Pedicle digital pad transfer and negative pressure wound therapy for reconstruction of the weight-bearing surface after complete digital loss in a dog

A young Labrador Retriever was presented for treatment of severe distal hindlimb necrosis caused by bandage ischemia. During digit amputation at the metatarsophalangeal joints, the third and fourth digital pads were salvaged and transferred to the metatarsal stump to create a weight-bearing surface. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) was utilized for flap immobilization and to promote granulation tissue in the remaining wound defect. Sturdy adherence of the digital pads was achieved after only four days. The skin defect healed completely by second intention and the stump was epithelialized with a thin pad after three months. At the nine month follow-up examination, the stump had a thick hyperkeratinized pad. The dog walked and ran without any apparent signs of discomfort and compensated for the loss of limb length by extending the stifle and tarsocrural joints. Despite a challenging wound in a difficult anatomical location, digital pad flap transfer and NPWT proved successful in restoring long-term ambulation in an active large breed dog.

Vessel sealing versus suture ligation for canine ovarian pedicle haemostasis: a randomised clinical trial

Vessel sealing (VS) is well established in laparoscopic ovariectomy (OVE) in dogs. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of ovarian pedicle haemostasis by VS using a commercially available VS tool in open OVE and compare it with suture ligation (SL). A prospective, randomised clinical trial including 20 female dogs was designed. Open OVE was performed via a standard mid-line celiotomy by a single surgeon using a standardised protocol. At random, the right ovarian pedicle was sealed (VS) or ligated (SL) whereas the left pedicle was treated by the alternative technique. Surgical times for procedural stages and intra-operative complications were recorded and statistically evaluated. Total surgical time was 29.28±11.13 minutes (range 12.50–62.13 minutes) and time from identification to removal of the ovary was significantly less when sealing (VS 2.22±0.58 minutes) than when ligating (SL 4.10±1.13 minutes P=0.0001). Intra-operative complications were rare for both techniques (failure of the electrode of the VS device (n=3); ovarian pedicle haemorrhage due to ligature slippage (n=1)). The results of the current study indicate that ovarian pedicle haemostasis achieved by VS is significantly faster than by placement of ligatures without appearing to compromise safety.

Metabolic correlates of tumour hypoxia in malignant canine mammary carcinoma.

Given its importance in human and canine tumour biology, a profound understanding of tumour hypoxia is of paramount importance. Therefore, the aim of this work was to investigate the relationship between tumour hypoxia and the expression of a number of hypoxia-induced proteins that play a role in tumour metabolism. The hypoxia marker pimonidazole was administered to dogs affected by spontaneous mammary carcinoma and compared with immunohistochemical staining for GLUT1 and 3, HK 2 and CA IX. A statistically significant correlation was found between pimonidazole staining and GLUT1-expression (R=0.607; p=0.001). These results indicate a strong interaction between tumour hypoxia and tumour metabolism by the induction of proteins essential to maintain a stable tumour microenvironment.

Laparoscopic treatment of persistent inguinal haemorrhage after prescrotal orchiectomy in a dog

A one-year-old male Jack Russell terrier developed a prescrotal haematoma after elective orchiectomy. When surgical exploration failed to locate the responsible vessel and conservative therapy (applying a pressure bandage) was not successful in stabilising the dog, abdominal laparoscopy was performed. The haemorrhage originated from the spermatic cord in the inguinal canal bilaterally. After retracting the spermatic cord into the abdomen, haemostasis was performed using a vessel-sealing device. The prescrotal haematoma was removed and the dog made an uncomplicated recovery.

Comparison of a 5-mm and 10-mm vessel sealing device in an open ovariectomy model in dogs

The objectives of this study were to compare (1) the extent of thermal damage and (2) the time between the 5-mm LigaSure V (LS5) and 10-mm LigaSure Atlas (LS10) vessel sealing devices (VSD) when performing open ovariectomy in dogs. A prospective, randomised, clinical trial was performed in 40 client-owned sexually entire female dogs. In each dog, one ovary was randomly assigned to be surgically removed using LS5 and the contralateral using LS10. The depth of thermal spread, measured on histopathological preparations, was significantly larger for LS10 (LS10 1.35±0.23 mm v LS5 0.82±0.10 mm; P<0.001). Mean ovariectomy time was significantly faster when using LS10 (LS5 2.58±1.32 minutes v LS10 2.07±1.27 minutes; P=0.008). Bodyweight was positively correlated with the time required for ovariectomy using LS5 (P=0.004), but no such correlation was present for LS10 (P=0.611). In conclusion, during open ovariectomy using VSD, LS10 causes significantly more thermal spread but surgical time is shorter compared with LS5. When using LS5, the ovariectomy time increases with increasing bodyweight.

Use of greater omentum in the surgical treatment of a synovial cyst in a cat.

A 13-year-old cat was diagnosed with a synovial cyst originating from the glenohumeral joint. The cat presented with severe front limb lameness and a non-painful fluctuating swelling on the medial aspect of the humerus. Radiographic examination showed severe bilateral shoulder osteoarthritis with osteophyte formation. The mass was surgically resected and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of a synovial cyst. Three weeks postoperatively the cyst recurred. Surgical resection was repeated followed by omentalisation of the defect. Throughout the following 3 months the cyst did not recur. Unfortunately, for reasons unrelated to the presented disease, the cat was euthanized shortly afterwards, therefore making a long-term follow-up impossible.

Tongue entrapment by chew toys in two dogs

Compression of a chew toy during regular play activity can create a vacuum effect eventually causing entrapment of oral tissues. Two cases of tongue entrapment are described, which resulted in severe tissue swelling, oedema and vascular obstruction. In the first dog, the toy was removed by the veterinary surgeon under general anaesthesia. Damage to the tongue proved to be reversible and the dog recovered uneventfully. In the second patient, the toy was forcefully removed by the owner. The resulting tongue necrosis required partial amputation. Treatment of this emergency condition consists of elimination of the negative pressure inside the toy by piercing it or even by insufflation of positive pressure inside the toy, and of an atraumatic manipulation to prevent further damage to the compromised tissues.