A systematic review of criteria used to report complications in soft tissue and oncologic surgical clinical research studies in dogs and cats.

ObjectiveTo evaluate reporting of surgical complications and other adverse events in clinical research articles describing soft tissue and oncologic surgery in dogs and cats.Study designSystematic literature review.SampleEnglish-language articles describing soft tissue and oncologic surgeries in client-owned dogs and cats published in peer-reviewed journals from 2013 to 2016.MethodsCAB, AGRICOLA, and MEDLINE databases were searched for eligible articles. Article characteristics relevant to complications were abstracted and summarized, including reported events, definitions, criteria used to classify events according to severity and time frame, and relevant citations.ResultsOne hundred fifty-one articles involving 10 522 animals were included. Canine retrospective case series of dogs predominated. Ninety-two percent of articles mentioned complications in study results, but only 7.3% defined the term complication. Articles commonly described complications according to time frame and severity, but terminology and classification criteria were highly variable, conflicting between studies, or not provided. Most (58%) reported complications could have been graded with a published veterinary adverse event classification scheme, although common intraoperative complications were notable exceptions.ConclusionDefinitions and criteria used to classify and report soft tissue and oncologic surgical complications are often absent, incomplete, or contradictory among studies.Clinical significanceLack of consistent terminology contributes to inadequate communication of important information about surgical complications. Standardization of terminology and consistency in severity scoring will improve comparative evaluation of clinical research results

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for resection of unilateral noninvasive adrenal masses in dogs is associated with excellent outcomes in experienced centers

OBJECTIVE: To report the short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) for resection of unilateral adrenal masses and to document risk factors for conversion and peri- and postoperative morbidity. ANIMALS: 255 client-owned dogs. METHODS: Dogs were included if LA was attempted for resection of a unilateral adrenal mass. Medical records were evaluated and relevant data were reported, including complications, conversion, perioperative death, and long-term outcomes. Signalment, clinicopathological data, and surgical experience were factors statistically evaluated for possible associations with capsular penetration during surgery, conversion, surgical time, duration of hospital stay, death prior to discharge, mass recurrence, and survival time. RESULTS: 155 dogs had left-sided tumors, and 100 had right-sided tumors. Conversion to an open approach was performed in 9.4% of cases. Capsular penetration (19.2%) and major hemorrhage (5.4%) were the most prevalent intraoperative complications. Of the dogs operated on, 94.9% were discharged from the hospital. Lesion side, portion of the gland affected, and surgeon experience influenced surgical time. Conversion rate increased with increasing body condition score and lesion size. Risk of death prior to discharge increased with increasing lesion size. Risk of conversion and death prior to discharge were lower when performed by more experienced surgeons. Capsular penetration during LA increased the risk of tumor recurrence. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: LA for resection of unilateral adrenal masses is associated with excellent outcomes in experienced centers. Surgeons with greater experience with LA have lower surgical times, conversion rates, and risk of death prior to discharge

Assessment of 3 Bowel Preparation Protocols for Computed Tomography Pneumocolonography in Normal Dogs.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of 3 different bowel preparation protocols on interpretation of computed tomography (CT) pneumocolonography images.Study designExperimental crossover design.AnimalsIntact male, hound-cross, research colony dogs (n=4).MethodsAll dogs received the 3 different bowel preparation protocols for CT pneumocolonography in the same order, with a minimum of 2 weeks between protocols. For each segment of large bowel, the subjective adequacy of bowel cleansing was assessed, residual fecal and bowel volumes were calculated, and the density of fecal material in the bowel lumen was measured. Linear mixed effect models that included a random dog effect were used to evaluate mean differences in outcome measures across protocols.ResultsNo dogs experienced any clinical problems associated with the protocols or CT pneumocolonography. Bowel cleansing was considered adequate for CT pneumocolonography interpretation for all 3 protocols. There was a significant effect of protocol on residual fecal volumes and the fecal:bowel volume ratio, with the 2 protocols that included an extended fast producing the lowest total residual fecal volumes. There was a significant effect of protocol on maximum measured density of residual fecal material with the 2 protocols including iodinated contrast having the highest density.ConclusionsAll protocols were sufficient for CT pneumocolonography interpretation and contrast-tagging of residual fecal material was successful with oral iopamidol administration. An at-home bowel cleansing protocol may provide adequate bowel cleansing for CT pneumocolonography image interpretation

Gastric malpositioning and chronic, intermittent vomiting following prophylactic gastropexy in a 20-month-old great Dane dog.

A 20-month-old castrated male great Dane dog was presented for evaluation of chronic intermittent vomiting of 2 months' duration. A prophylactic incisional gastropexy performed at 6 mo of age resulted in gastric malpositioning and subsequent partial gastric outflow tract obstruction