Use of pneumocystoplasty for overinflation of the swim bladder in a goldfish

A Ryukin goldfish was evaluated because of a 6-month history of progressive abdominal distention and positive buoyancy. Overinflation of the swim bladder was diagnosed, and the fish was anesthetized with tricaine methanesulfonate. Archimedes' principle was used to determine the volume of swim bladder that was removed surgically. The caudal swim bladder was exteriorized through an abdominal incision and 2 surgical clips were placed across it to limit its size. After surgery, the fish remained in a state of negative buoyancy in sternal and lateral recumbency on the bottom of the tank. Sutures were removed 15 days after surgery, but the fish died 24 days after surgery. A full necropsy could not be performed because of autolysis of the tissues, but the surgical clips and the swim bladder appeared unremarkable. Pneumocystoplasty may be a viable treatment for this condition.     

Surgical removal of a seminoma from a black sea bass

An adult black sea bass was examined because of abdominal distention and decreased appetite. A large abdominal swelling was evident and was firm on palpation. Differential diagnoses included neoplasia, abscess or granuloma, hematoma, or swim bladder abnormality. Diagnostic tests included survey radiography, positive-contrast radiography, and computed tomography. The sea bass was anesthetized with tricaine methanesulfonate. A ventral midline abdominal incision was made, and adhesions to the mass were gently dissected. The fish recovered without complications. Radiography was repeated 8 weeks after surgery, and there was no evidence of mass regrowth. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a barium enema being performed in a fish. Although surgical procedures are performed more commonly on fish for research, a few reports of clinical surgical cases have been described. Our experience supports the conclusions of other reports that certain surgical procedures can be performed safely in fish.     

Comparison between coelioscopy and coeliotomy for liver biopsy in channel catfish

Objective-To evaluate endoscopic liver biopsy and compare that technique with a standard coeliotomy biopsy technique in fish. Design-Randomized controlled clinical trial. Animals-30 channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Procedures-10 fish were randomly assigned into control, coeliotomy, and coelioscopy groups. Anesthesia was performed with a recirculating anesthesia machine. Body weight, PCV, and total protein (TP) concentration in blood as well as plasma activities of aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and sorbitol dehydrogenase were measured before and after surgery. Standard ventral coeliotomy or coelioscopy was performed, and the biopsy specimens were scored histologically. Results-Coeliotomy and coelioscopy procedures were well tolerated without acute deaths. Blood TP concentration and PCV decreased after surgery in the coelioscopy group because of intracoelomic fluid administration to aid visualization. Minor changes in activities for hepatic and muscular enzyme activities were apparent, but were not significantly different between the coelioscopy and coeliotomy groups. Coelioscopy and coeliotomy yielded biopsy specimens of similar diagnostic quality. However, coelioscopy permitted a more extensive evaluation of the viscera, and all 10 surgical wounds healed completely, compared with severe wound dehiscence in 3 of 10 fish that underwent coeliotomy. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Both coelioscopy and coeliotomy were capable of yielding antemortem liver biopsy specimens of diagnostic quality in catfish. Coelioscopy permitted a more detailed examination of the coelomic viscera through a smaller surgical incision, was less traumatic, and resulted in decreased wound dehiscence.     

Coelioscopic Investigation in European Eels (Anguilla anguilla)

Coelioscopy is a surgical technique in which small incisions are made into the coelomic cavity through which specific instrumentation is inserted to evaluate the internal structures within. For this reason, coelioscopy must be considered a less-invasive surgical method than traditional abdominal surgery. This study was aimed at evaluating and adapting the general coelioscopic principles of the technique to teleosts (10 European eels [Anguilla anguilla]). All the examined fish were anaesthetized with tricaine methanesulfonate solution. The coelioscopic procedures were performed with a rigid, 30° offset, 1.9-mm diameter endoscope connected to a portable video system. The results confirm that coelioscopy represents an imaging technique with high sensitivity in evaluating the coelomic organs in European eels.     

Long-term evaluation of canine perianal fistula disease treated with exclusive fish and potato diet and surgical excision

The records of 33 dogs that had perianal fistula disease treated with en bloc surgical excision and bilateral anal saculectomy, and that were perioperatively administered an exclusive white fish and potato diet, were reviewed to determine outcome. By 1 year after surgery, 87.9% of the dogs had complete or near-complete resolution of visible fistula disease, while only 20.7% continued to have mild intermittent clinical signs. Fecal incontinence was not reported in any dog. Overall, complications were considerably less in both severity and frequency when compared with previous reports.     

Clinical Anesthesia and Analgesia in Fish

Fish have become a popular experimental model and companion animal, and are also farmed and caught for food. Thus, surgical and invasive procedures in this animal group are common, and this review will focus on the anesthesia and analgesia of fish. A variety of anesthetic agents are commonly applied to fish via immersion. Correct dosing can result in effective anesthesia for acute procedures as well as loss of consciousness for surgical interventions. Dose and anesthetic agent vary between species of fish and are further confounded by a variety of physiological parameters (e.g., body weight, physiological stress) as well as environmental conditions (e.g., water temperature). Combination anesthesia, where 2 anesthetic agents are used, has been effective for fish but is not routinely used because of a lack of experimental validation. Analgesia is a relatively underexplored issue in regards to fish medicine. However, recent studies have investigated opioid agents, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, and local anesthetics to determine their efficacy in minimizing pain and discomfort. The opioid morphine and the local anesthetic lidocaine do have significant effectiveness in reducing pain-related responses in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Studies aimed at developing reliable analgesic protocols should explore a wide range of analgesic drug classes in several fish species.     

Assessment of the efficacy of composite surgery for the treatment of dorsal displacement of the soft palate in a group of 53 racing Thoroughbreds (1990-1996)

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: There has been no objectively assessed case-control study of the efficacy of surgery to correct dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) previously reported. HYPOTHESIS: Composite surgery has a beneficial result on racing performance in horses affected with DDSP as compared to a matched control population. METHODS: Race records were obtained for 53 racing Thoroughbreds which underwent composite staphylectomy, sternothyrohyoideus myectomy and ventriculectomy for correction of idiopathic DDSP at the University of Bristol between 1990 and 1996. Each surgical case was matched for age, sex and training yard with 2 control horses. The racing performance, based on prize money won, of surgical cases and control horses were compared for 3 races run before and after the date of surgery. RESULTS: Ninety-two percent of the surgical cases returned to racing after surgery. There was a significant increase in earnings of the surgical group before and after surgery (P = 0.011), but there was no significant difference in earnings of the control group before and after the date of surgery (P = 0335). Sixty percent of the surgical group had higher earnings after surgery than before, compared to 40% of controls. When horses which underwent surgery were ranked relative to their 2 matched controls, surgical cases did not significantly change in rank (P = 033), whereas control horses significantly decreased in rank (P = 0.012). Additionally, horses within the surgical group were more likely (P < 0.01) to start in 3 post operative races than those in the control group. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Composite surgery had a beneficial effect on racing performance of horses afflicted with idiopathic DDSP, and further studies to evaluate objectively the usefulness of other surgical techniques are warranted.     

Influence of open surgical correction on intermediate-term outcome in dogs with subvalvular aortic stenosis: 44 cases (1991-1998)

OBJECTIVE: To compare outcome and intermediate-term survival for dogs undergoing open surgical correction of subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS) with those for dogs with SAS that did not undergo surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 44 dogs with congenital SAS. PROCEDURE: Maximum instantaneous systolic pressure gradients were determined by use of Doppler echocardiography. Cardiopulmonary bypass and open surgical correction of SAS (membranectomy with or without septal myectomy) was performed in 22 dogs, whereas 22 dogs did not undergo surgical correction. Cumulative survival was compared between surgical and nonsurgical groups, using Kaplan-Meier nonparametric analysis and a Mantel-Cox log-rank test. RESULTS: Initial systolic pressure gradients were not significantly different for dogs undergoing surgery (128 +/- 55 mm Hg), compared with those that did not undergo surgery (117 +/- 57 mm Hg). Systolic pressure gradients were significantly decreased after surgery in dogs that underwent surgery (54 +/- 27 mm Hg). Cumulative survival was not significantly different between dogs in the surgical and nonsurgical groups. Censoring surgery-related mortality in the analysis still did not reveal a significant difference in cumulative survival between the surgical and nonsurgical groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Despite reductions in the systolic pressure gradient and possible associated improvement in exercise tolerance, a palliative benefit on survival was not documented in dogs undergoing surgery for SAS.     

The next patient is a sick fish,what to do? (Part II)

In the first article the clinical history, water testing and clinical examination were described. In this article the therapy and surgery procedures of fish will be discussed. The risk for prescribing drugs for consumption fish will be underlined. A reference list is enclosed for interested veterinarians.     

Surgical removal of retrobulbar hemangioma in a goldfish (Carassius auratus).

The surgical removal of retrobulbar hemangioma is described in a mature fantail goldfish (Carassius auratus) with a 6-week history of a swollen right eye.The fish was anesthetized using alfaxalnone at a concentration in the water of 5 mg/L to facilitate fine-needle aspiration and surgical removal of the eye. The fish was treated with enrofloxacin 5 mg intraperitoneally and recovered with major buoyancy deficits that corrected 20 minutes after treatment with methadone at a dose of 0.4 mg intramuscularly. Histologic examination of the excised tissue demonstrated that the tumor was a compact hemangioma.     

Surgical versus non-surgical treatment of feline small intestinal adenocarcinoma and the influence of metastasis on long-term survival in 18 cats (2000-2007)

This study retrospectively evaluated long-term outcomes of 18 cats diagnosed with small intestinal adenocarcinoma, based on surgical versus non-surgical treatment and the presence or absence of metastasis at the time of surgery. Ten cats had surgery and histopathologic confirmation of adenocarcinoma and 8 cats did not have surgery but had cytologic diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. Median survival of cats with adenocarcinoma that underwent surgical excision was 365 days and 22 days for those with suspected adenocarcinoma that did not undergo surgery (P = 0.019). Median survival of cats was 843 days for those without evidence of metastatic disease at the time of surgery and 358 days for those that had (P = 0.25). In conclusion, surgical excision is beneficial in the treatment of small intestinal adenocarcinoma in the cat, including those patients with metastasis, and may result in a significantly longer survival time compared with patients which do not have their mass surgically excised.     

If you build it,they will learn: A review of models in veterinary surgical education

Surgical skills are learned through deliberate practice, and veterinary educators are increasingly turning to models for teaching and assessing surgical skills. This review article sought to compile and review the literature specific to veterinary surgical skills models, and to discuss the themes of fidelity, educational outcomes, and validity evidence. Several literature searches using broad terms such as “veterinary surgery model,” “veterinary surgical model,” and “veterinary surgical simulator” were performed using PubMed, CAB abstracts, and Google scholar. All articles describing a model created and utilized for veterinary surgical training were included. Other review articles were used as a source for additional models. Commercially available models were found using review articles, internet browser searches, and communication with veterinary clinical skills educators. There has been an explosion of growth in the variety of small animal surgical task trainers published in the last several decades. These models teach orthopedic surgery, ligation and suturing, open celiotomy and abdominal surgery, sterilization surgeries, and minimally invasive surgeries. Some models were published with accompanying rubrics for learner assessment; these rubrics have been noted where present. Research in veterinary surgical models is expanding and becoming an area of focus for academic institutions. However, there is room for growth in the collection of validity evidence and in development of models for teaching large animal surgery, training surgical residents, and providing continuing education to practitioners. This review can assist with evaluation of current surgical models and trends, and provide a platform for additional studies and development of best practices.     

A Retrospective Evaluation of Stifle Osteoarthritis in Dogs with Bilateral Medial Patellar Luxation and Unilateral Surgical Repair

The effects of surgical and nonsurgical therapy on the development of osteoarthritis were compared in 12 dogs with bilateral medial patellar luxation and unilateral surgical repair. Evaluations included severity of lameness and patellar luxation, ligamentous stability, range of motion, and radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis before surgery and at a mean of 33 months after surgery. Stifles without surgical treatment served as controls for the contralateral stifles with surgery. All stifles treated surgically had reduced patellofemoral joints, normal range of motion, and improved limb use. Osteoarthritis progressed significantly and comparably in both groups of stifles. Progression of osteoarthritis was not correlated with luxation grade, body weight, or interval from surgery to follow-up. Age at surgery was correlated positively with severity of osteoarthritis in the stifles treated surgically.     

Epidemiologic evaluation of postoperative wound infection in clean-contaminated wounds: A retrospective study of 239 dogs and cats

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate risk factors for development of postoperative wound infections in clean-contaminated wounds. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Two hundred thirty-nine dogs and cats that had clean-contaminated surgical procedures. METHODS: Records of animals that had a clean-contaminated surgical procedure and were prospectively monitored for development of postoperative wound infection were reviewed. Prospective data included signalment, nutritional status, body weight, duration of surgery, surgical procedures, wound classification, surgical site clip time before surgery, hypotension during surgery, the presence of an active distant infection, endocrinopathy, administration of an immunosuppressive agent, administration of antibiotics, and the type of antibiotic used. Additional retrieved data included total anesthesia time, temperature variables, blood loss, and suture material used. RESULTS: Intact males (P =.008) and animals with concurrent endocrinopathy (P =.008) were at a higher risk of development of postoperative wound infection. Total surgery time (P =.02) and total anesthesia time (P =.04) were longer in animals that developed postoperative wound infection. No other factors were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Intact males and animals with a concurrent endocrinopathy were at higher risk of postoperative wound infection after clean-contaminated surgical procedures. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Time under anesthesia and duration of surgery should be minimized to reduce the risk of wound infection in clean-contaminated surgical procedures.     

Lasers in the surgical treatment of canine prostatic neoplasia and selected tumours of the male reproductive system

Light-based technologies are applied in various fields of medicine: for example optical diagnostics, light-activated therapy and surgery. Although light-based surgical procedures had hardly been a novelty, the revolutionizing moment for surgery came with the first use of light to cut tissue. Nowadays, surgical lasers are routinely used across numerous medical specialties, including gynaecology and urology. They are a part of the surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate carcinoma, penis carcinoma, genital skin lesions and orchidectomy. While in human urology lasers continue to establish their position as one of the standard surgical tools, veterinary patients are rarely treated with what here is still considered a technical innovation. However, through research on laser treatment of the prostate hyperplasia conducted on a canine model, veterinary medicine has gained a massive portion of data. It may prove beneficial for our clinical patients. In this review, we introduce the very principles of laser surgery as well as its current and future applications in oncologic surgery of the canine prostate gland and the male reproductive system.     

The next patient is a sick fish,what to do? (part I)

Many health problems in fish are the result of living in poor environmental conditions. The clinical history is very important, not only of the fish, but also of the water quality. Watertesting is presented and after making the clinical examination, a diagnosis can be made. In the second article therapy and surgical procedures are discussed.     

Retained surgical swabs in 13 dogs

To report the signalment, history, clinical signs, diagnostic and surgical findings and outcome in dogs and cats with retained swabs, medical records of dogs and cats that were referred to four referral centres were reviewed. Cases in which a retained surgical swab was identified during surgery at the referral hospital were selected for further study. The signalment, history, clinical signs, diagnostic and surgical findings and outcome in these cases were reviewed. Thirteen dogs with retained surgical swabs were included in the study. Bodyweight ranged from 9 to 45 kg. The initial surgery was a 'non-routine' abdominal procedure in seven dogs, ovariohysterectomy in five dogs and perineal hernia repair in one dog. Time from initial surgery to presentation at the referral centre ranged from four days to seven years. Treatment involved major surgery in eight of the 13 dogs. Outcome was excellent in 12 of 13 cases, one dog was euthanased.     

Standing abdominal surgery.

Safe, effective surgery can be performed in the standing, conscious horse using a combination of mechanical and chemical restraint. Clear indications for performing standing abdominal surgery exist, but many procedures are best performed under general anesthesia. The preferred approach involves a modified grid incision of the left paralumbar fossa. Flank celiotomy allows the surgeon to thoroughly explore the abdominal cavity, but few structures can be exteriorized, and visibility of abdominal contents is poor. Indications for standing abdominal surgery include diagnosis of abdominal masses, drainage and biopsy techniques, correction of left dorsal displacement of the large colon, and evaluation of rectal injuries, and performing loop colostomy techniques, laparoscopy, removal of retained testicles, correction of uterine torsions, surgical embryo transfer, ovariectomy in normal mares, and some experimental procedures. Standing surgical techniques are most useful and appropriate for surgical exploration, to correct uterine torsions, and to perform loop colostomy and surgical embryo transfer techniques. Perioperative antimicrobial and antiinflammatory therapy is recommended. Mild discomfort and ventral incisional swelling after surgery are expected.     

Surgical procedures for glaucoma: what the general practitioner needs to know

Glaucoma can be treated by medical and surgical options. Most ophthalmologists believe that patients with glaucoma are best treated with surgery. Early recognition of clinical signs and selection of the most effective type of surgery depending on the stage of glaucoma and the underlying cause are important factors in glaucoma surgery. Several surgical procedures exist for dogs with primary glaucoma, which may include a cyclodestructive technique or an aqueous outflow bypass procedure or a combination of both procedures. Salvage procedures such as enucleation, evisceration with an intrascleral prosthesis, or chemical intravitreal injection may be advised for chronically blind eyes with no hope of vision. Client compliance and expectations, therapeutic goals, status of vision (visual versus blind), financial constraints, surgical expertise, and underlying systemic disorders should be considered in the selection of the most appropriate surgical option for each patient.     

Limb Salvage Surgery for Osteosarcoma of the Proximal Humerus: Outcome in 17 Dogs

Objective —To describe function and identify factors that affect outcome in dogs undergoing limb salvage surgery for osteosarcoma (OS) of the proximal humerus.
Study Design —A retrospective study of dogs in which OS of the proximal humerus was treated with limb salvage surgery.
Animals —17 client-owned dogs.
Methods: Records were analyzed for functional outcome, recurrence, metastasis, and survival.
Results —Outcome was good to excellent in 12% of dogs. Recurrence, metastasis, and survival were significantly affected by completeness of surgical margins. Double plating of the distal allograft-host junction significantly reduced frequency of biomechanical failure.
Conclusions —Limb salvage surgery for OS of the proximal humerus did not result in acceptable function and was fraught with postoperative complications. Outcome was significantly affected by completeness of surgical margins.
Clinical Relevance —Limb salvage surgery for OS of the proximal humerus in dogs cannot be recommended until improvement in functional outcome and reduction in postoperative complications can be achieved. The dependence of outcome on completeness of surgical margins supports aggressive en bloc resection and marking and evaluating surgical margins.