Soft Tissue Surgery

Exploratory laparotomy is used to diagnose or further investigate problems inside the abdomen that could not be achieved via preoperative diagnostics.

Thorough exploratory laparotomy is a key component of abdominal surgery.

Surgical intervention is indicated as the treatment of choice for massive, solitary liver tumors in dogs.

The prognosis is good for dogs with massive hepatocellular carcinoma, especially given the liver has an enormous capacity for regeneration. Specific surgical approaches depend on multiple variables, including surgeon preference as well as tumor characteristics.

Use of efficient surgical techniques during an ovariohysterectomy should prove beneficial for the patient, surgeon, and veterinary business alike.

Use of efficient surgical techniques during an ovariohysterectomy should prove beneficial for the patient, surgeon, and veterinary business alike.

In Part 2 of our “Surgical Drains” series, the author discusses proper placement of the different types of drains, how to manage them after placement, and when to remove them.

Surgical drains are implants that allow removal of fluid and/or gas from a wound or body cavity. This review is part 1 of a 2-part series. Part 1 covers indications for drain use, types, benefits and drawbacks of each type, and common complications. Part 2 will cover drain placement techniques and postoperative care.

Diseases of the external and middle ear are common problems in dogs and cats. Chronic otitis externa alone accounts for approximately 10% of admissions to small animal hospitals.1 Ear disease often goes unnoticed by the owner until the disease has progressed…

Drains are placed in wounds to evacuate fluid that would otherwise accumulate due to dead space, inflammation, infection, and/or necrosis. Fluid accumulation in a wound can be detrimental because…

Daniel D. Smeak, DVM, Diplomate ACVS, and Kurtis M. Hazenfield, DVM, MS Colorado State University Certain binding knots are highly useful in achieving consistently secure ligations. Very little information is available in the human and veterinary literature describing indications and contraindications for use of binding knots for ligation, and we could find no published, wellillustrated …

If performed early, surgery and corrective procedures can prevent development of secondary changes associated with brachycephalic airway syndrome.

Brachycephalic airway syndrome (BAS) refers to a group of primary and secondary abnormalities (Table 1) that result in upper airway obstruction. Primary abnormalities cause an increase in negative pressure within the upper airways that can eventually lead to secondary abnormalities. Any tissue that obstructs the airway lumen is a source of resistance. According to the …