Sternal cleft is a rare congenital abnormality that can be corrected surgically with favorable outcome.

Vessel sealing (VS) is well established in laparoscopic ovariectomy (OVE) in dogs. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of ovarian pedicle haemostasis by VS using a commercially available VS tool in open OVE and compare it with suture ligation (SL). A prospective, randomised clinical trial including 20 female dogs was designed. Open OVE was performed via a standard mid-line celiotomy by a single surgeon using a standardised protocol. At random, the right ovarian pedicle was sealed (VS) or ligated (SL) whereas the left pedicle was treated by the alternative technique. Surgical times for procedural stages and intra-operative complications were recorded and statistically evaluated. Total surgical time was 29.28±11.13 minutes (range 12.50-62.13 minutes) and time from identification to removal of the ovary was significantly less when sealing (VS 2.22±0.58 minutes) than when ligating (SL 4.10±1.13 minutes P=0.0001). Intra-operative complications were rare for both techniques (failure of the electrode of the VS device (n=3); ovarian pedicle haemorrhage due to ligature slippage (n=1)). The results of the current study indicate that ovarian pedicle haemostasis achieved by VS is significantly faster than by placement of ligatures without appearing to compromise safety.

The application of NPWT with a PVA foam after full-thickness mesh skin grafting in dogs provides an effective method for securing skin grafts, with good graft acceptance. PVA foam can be used as a primary dressing for skin grafts, obviating the need for other interposing materials to protect the graft and the surrounding skin.

A 7-month-old male castrated European shorthair cat was presented because of a recurrent cleft of the soft palate. Surgical correction had already been performed twice by a local veterinary practitioner. For the third correction, a pharyngeal overlapping flap was used but again, dehiscence occurred. Finally, the angularis oris axial pattern buccal flap technique, as described in dogs, was applied. The flap covered the defect without any tension, and good vascularization was appreciated during the whole procedure. Because of severe swelling of the intraoral tissues at the end of the procedure, dexamethasone was administered intravenously. Almost instantly after the injection, the cat went into cardiorespiratory arrest, and died shortly after.

No abstract