Objective Review medical records of dogs that underwent adrenalectomy without pre‐operative medical management, to examine the peri‐operative morbidity and mortality. Design Case series of 65 dogs. Methods Medical records were reviewed. Features recorded included the histologic diagnosis, intra‐operative hypertension or tachycardia, requirement for cavotomy, administration of intra‐ and post‐operative corticosteroids, performance of additional surgery and the occurrence of peri‐operative complications. Dogs requiring emergency surgery were excluded. Results Of the 65 dogs, 49 had adrenocortical tumours (11 bilateral), 13 had pheochromocytomas (one bilateral) and three dogs had tumours in both adrenal glands of a different tumour type. Five dogs had caudal vena cava invasion and 33 had additional procedures performed at the same time. Mortality occurred in 1/65 dogs (1.5%; 95% CI 0.03%–8.2%), major complications were identified in 1/65 dogs (1.5%; 95% CI 0.03%–8.2%) and minor complications occurred in 10/53 dogs (15%; 95% CI 8.6%–26%). Conclusion Based on the limited peri‐operative complications and low mortality in this pre‐operatively untreated cohort, and based on critique of the available literature, the added value afforded by pre‐operative treatment is questioned. With appropriate management, adrenal tumours can be removed with few peri‐operative complications and low mortality.

Preoperative CT facilitated the diagnosis of a dermoid sinus and directed surgical planning; however, careful dissection beyond the nuchal ligament is imperative for complete excision.

Background Gastroesophageal reflux and regurgitation occurs in brachycephalic dogs, but objective assessment is lacking. Objectives Quantify reflux in brachycephalic dogs using an esophageal pH probe and determine the association with scored clinical observations. Animals Fifty‐one brachycephalic dogs. Methods Case review study. Signs of respiratory and gastrointestinal disease severity were graded based on owner assessment. An esophageal pH probe with 2 pH sensors was placed for 18‐24 hours in brachycephalic dogs that presented for upper airway assessment. Proximal and distal reflux were indicated by detection of fluid with a pH ≤4. The median reflux per hour, percentage time pH ≤4, number of refluxes ≥5 minutes and longest reflux event for distal and proximal sensors were recorded. Association of preoperative respiratory and gastrointestinal grade, laryngeal collapse grade, and previous airway surgery with the distal percentage time pH ≤4 was examined using 1‐way ANOVA. Results A total of 43 of 51 dogs (84%; 95% confidence interval 72‐92) displayed abnormal reflux with a median (range) distal percentage time pH ≤4 of 6.4 (2.5‐36.1). There was no significant association between the distal percentage time pH ≤4 and respiratory grade, gastrointestinal grade, laryngeal collapse grade, or previous upper airway surgery. Conclusions and Clinical Importance The occurrence of reflux is not associated with owner‐assessed preoperative respiratory and gastrointestinal grade, laryngeal collapse grade, and previous airway surgery. Esophageal pH measurement provides an objective assessment tool before and after surgery.

OBJECTIVE To describe a technique for circumferential esophageal hiatal rim reconstruction and to report outcomes in brachycephalic dogs with persistent regurgitation treated with the technique. ANIMALS 29 client-owned brachycephalic dogs. PROCEDURES Dogs that had undergone circumferential esophageal hiatal rim reconstruction between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2019, for treatment of persistent regurgitation were identified through a search of the medical record database of The Animal Hospital at Murdoch University. Circumferential esophageal hiatal rim reconstruction involved apposition of the medial margins of the left and right pars lumbalis dorsal to the esophagus (reconstructing the dorsal margin) and ventral to the esophagus (reducing the ventral hiatal aperture and completing the circumferential reconstruction). Data collection from the medical records included preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative (short- and long-term outcomes [≤ 14 days and ≥ 6 months, respectively]) data. RESULTS In all dogs, substantial laxity of the left and right pars lumbalis and failure of dorsal coaxial alignment were observed, and circumferential esophageal hiatal rim reconstruction and esophagopexy were performed. Results of short-term follow-up indicated reduced regurgitation frequency; however, 7 of 29 dogs continued to have mild regurgitation, which was attributed to esophagitis and resolved with medical management. Long-term follow-up information was available for 19 dogs: regurgitation had resolved in 16 dogs and occurred once weekly in 3 dogs. No ongoing medication was required for any dog. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Circumferential hiatal rim reconstruction combined with esophagopexy substantially reduced regurgitation frequency in dogs of the present study, and we recommend that this procedure be considered for brachycephalic dogs presented with a history of regurgitation unresponsive to medical management.

Ozone is a strong oxidizing biocide that has broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties. The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of ozone to a propanol-based hand rub for hand disinfection. Twenty subjects were enrolled in an in-vivo cross-over trial (prEN 12791). Subjects treated their hands with the reference procedure (propan-1-ol 60%) or with ozone (4 ppm). Post-wash bacterial counts were determined from one hand (immediate effect), and from the other hand that had been gloved for 3h (delayed effect). The investigation indicated that ozone is inferior to propan-1-ol 60% hand rub for hand asepsis.