No significant difference in frequency of dehiscence was noted between hand- sutured and stapled anastomoses in dogs but surgery duration is significantly reduced by the use of staples for intestinal closure.

Objective To determine the influence of oversewing a transverse staple line in functional end‐to‐end stapled intestinal anastomoses (FEESA) in dogs. Study design Retrospective observational study. Sample population Seventy‐seven client‐owned dogs that underwent 78 FEESA reinforced (n = 30) or not reinforced (n = 48) with suture at the transverse staple line. Methods The medical records database was searched and reviewed for dogs that had undergone a FEESA between January 2008 and September 2018. Data were collected regarding signalment, body weight, clinical presentation, indication for surgery, serum albumin, presence of septic peritonitis, previous surgeries, surgical techniques (ie, oversew, crotch suture, omental wrap, omental patch, serosal patch), histopathology results, and postoperative outcome. Results The only differences identified between groups consisted of higher preoperative albumin (2.89 ± 0.56 vs 2.34 ± 0.62 g/dL; P = .006) and lower postoperative dehiscence rate (0/30 vs 7/48; P = .028) in dogs with an oversewn FEESA. Oversewing the FEESA was identified as the significant factor in a model with oversewing and preoperative albumin fit to the outcome of dehiscence (oversew P = .010, albumin P = .761). The location of the dehiscence was specified in four of seven dogs, all along the transverse staple line. Patterns used for oversew were unspecified (n = 11), simple continuous (8), Cushing (4), simple interrupted (2), cruciate (1), interrupted horizontal mattress (1), and Lembert (1). Conclusion Oversewing the transverse staple line in FEESA was associated with a reduced occurrence of postoperative dehiscence. Clinical significance Our results provide evidence to support additional investigation of suture reinforcement (oversewing) at the transverse staple line of FEESA to reduce postoperative dehiscence.

ObjectiveTo report the clinical characteristics, types of vascular ring anomalies (VRA), operative findings, complications, and survival after surgical treatment of cats with VRA.Study designRetrospective, multi‐institutional case series.AnimalsClient‐ or shelter‐owned cats presenting to academic, referral veterinary institutions.MethodsMedical records of cats with VRA that underwent surgical treatment were reviewed. Signalment, relevant medical history, clinical signs, diagnostic imaging, surgical findings, complications, and survival were recorded.ResultsTwenty cats with VRA were included. Vascular ring anomalies were most commonly (75% [15/20]) diagnosed in cats less than 1 year old, with no breed or sex predilection. Regurgitation was the most common clinical sign, present in 18 of 20 (90%) cats. A persistent right aortic arch was diagnosed in 17 of 20 (85%) cats, with concurrent aberrant left subclavian artery in four of the cats. Surgical treatment was associated with survival to discharge in 18 of 20 (90%) cats. Persistent clinical signs were reported in nine of 13 (69%) cats, and radiographic evidence of megaesophagus persisted in four of 13 (31%) cats, with a median follow‐up of 275 days after discharge.ConclusionPersistent right aortic arch was the most commonly diagnosed VRA in cats in this series, although multiple anomalies were observed. Surgical treatment of VRA in cats was associated with a high survival to discharge, although persistence of clinical signs and megaesophagus was noted in 69% and 31% of the cats, respectively.Clinical significanceSurgical treatment of VRA in cats is associated with a high survival rate; however, persistence of clinical signs is an expected outcome.

Objective: To compare leak pressures and construct completion time of six intestinal anastomoses and report normal canine gastrointestinal thickness. Study design: Experimental study. Animals: Grossly normal jejunal segments (n = 140) from 10 fresh canine cadavers. Methods: Gastrointestinal thickness was recorded. Eight-centimeter cooled canine cadaveric jejunal segments were randomly assigned to a control group (20 segments) and six treatment groups (20 segments/group [10 constructs/ group]): (1) handsewn anastomosis (HSA), (2) functional end-to-end stapled anastomosis (FEESA)-blue thoracoabdominal (TA; FEESA-TAB), (3) FEESAgreen TA (FEESA-TAG), (4) FEESA TA-gastrointestinal anastomosis (GIA), (5) FEESA with suture oversew (FEESA-O), and (6) skin staples (SS). Construct assembly time, initial leak pressure (ILP), maximum intraluminal pressure (MIP), and leakage location were compared. Results: Initial leak pressures (mean ± SD) for control (308.38 ± 115.91 mm Hg), HSA (41.96 ± 15.97), FEESA-TAB (31.71 ± 15.71), FEESA-TAG (27.24 ± 14.11), FEESA-GIA (25.62 ± 11.22), FEESA-O (31.01 ± 17.38), and SS (44.42 ± 28.88) groups were compared. No difference in ILP (P > .24) or MIP (P > .17) was detected between treatment groups. Sutured anastomoses took up to 10 times longer to complete (P = .0025). The stomach, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum mural thicknesses (mean ± SD) were 3.99 ± 0.44 mm, 2.34 ± 0.16, 2.49 ± 0.28, and 2.30 ± 0.31, respectively. Conclusion: The ILP of all anastomoses exceeded maximum intraluminal peristaltic pressures. Stapled anastomoses were faster to complete. Clinical significance: All anastomoses may be considered when performing an intestinal resection and anastomosis, with stapled anastomoses resulting in a shorter surgical time. Canine intestinal thickness may warrant use of a larger staple size. 1 | INTRODUCTION Intestinal resection and anastomosis is a common procedure performed in small animal surgery to remove nonviable or diseased intestines, with a reported incidence of dehiscence between 3% and 28%. 1-6 Currently, anastomoses in small animals are commonly performed with either a traditional handsewn technique or a surgical

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of four different intestinal anastomosis techniques at preventing leakage after enterectomy. Study design: Experimental study. Sample population: Grossly normal jejunal segments (N = 70) from three fresh canine cadavers. Methods: Eight-centimeter cooled canine cadaveric jejunal segments were randomly assigned to a control group (six segments) and four treatment groups (16 segments each [two segments/anastomotic construct]): (1) handsewn anastomosis (HSA), (2) barbed suture anastomosis (B-HSA), (3) stapled functional end-to-end anastomosis (SFEEA), and (4) stapled functional end-to-end anastomosis with an oversew (SFEEA-O). Control segments and anastomotic constructs were infused intraluminally to the point of leakage. Initial leak pressures were recorded and compared.Results: Initial leak pressures (median + range) for jejunal control segments, HSA, B-HSA, SFEEA, and SFEEA-O were 331.88 mmHg (range, 315.