No abstract

Prophylactic fenestration is generally successful in preventing future disk extrusions at fenestrated disk spaces. Prospective evaluation is still required to determine whether fenestration decreases the overall rate of recurrence. Prophylactic fenestration could promote disk extrusion at adjacent, nonfenestrated disk spaces. This could have a substantial clinical impact if recurrence develops at L4-5.

Multiple-site disk fenestration decreased the rate of recurrent IVDH in small-breed dogs, compared with the use of single-site disk fenestration.

Objective To compare long‐term clinical outcomes of dogs with single congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts (CEHPSS) treated with thin film banding (TFB) consisting of polyolefin fiber or ameroid ring constrictor (ARC) placement in dogs. Design Retrospective, two‐center clinical study. Animals Client‐owned dogs (n = 123) with single CEHPSS undergoing gradual attenuation via TFB (n = 85) or ARC (n = 38). Methods Medical records of dogs with CEHPSS were reviewed. Follow‐up data were collected from the referring veterinarian and/or owner via standardized questionnaire. Data were analyzed to compare short‐term mortality rate and long‐term outcome (>6 months). Results Dogs in the TFB group were older than dogs in the ARC group (median age, 19 vs 12 months, respectively; P = .01). There was no difference in survival to discharge between dogs in the TFB (81/85 [95.3%]) and ARC (37/38 [97.4%]; P > .99) groups. Preoperative levetiracetam was more frequently administered to dogs treated with TFB (64/85 [75.3%]) than to dogs treated with ARC (15/38 [39.5%;] P = .0002). Postoperative seizures were reported in 10 (8.1%) dogs; their prevalence did not differ between dogs treated with TFB (9/85 [10.6%]) and dogs treated with ARC (1/38 [2.6%]; P = .17). Median follow‐up time for dogs treated with TFB (58.0 months, range 8‐130) and ARC (63.3 months, range 7‐138; P = .24) did not differ. Conclusion Gradual attenuation of a single CEHPSS with either TFB or ARC resulted in similar long‐term clinical outcomes and low postoperative morbidity and mortality rates. Clinical significance Thin film banding (polyolefin fiber) offers an alternative leading to clinical outcomes similar to ARC in dogs with single CEHPSS.

Results indicated that young male Pugs may be predisposed to developing spontaneous LLT. The prognosis for survival and resolution of clinical signs in Pugs with LLT appeared to be excellent. Factors contributing to the development of LLT in Pugs are not known.