Surgery

For dogs suspected to have GDV (gastric dilation – volvulus syndrome), circulatory support is paramount.

Surgical fenestration of the intervertebral space provides a means of prophylaxis on disk disease.

Axial pattern flaps (APF) are a type of pedicle flap that include a large direct cutaneous artery and vein.

Cystotomy is a common surgical procedure in small animal surgery, most often performed for removal of uroliths.

Feline nasopharyngeal polyps (inflammatory polyps, middle ear polyps, aural polyps) are benign growths that originate from the middle ear or the Eustachian tubes of young cats.

Fractures of the pelvis are common.

Gastrotomy is a common procedure most often performed for removal of gastric foreign bodies.

The stomach is a C-shaped musculoglandular organ. It has the largest dilatation of the alimentary canal.

Thorough and timely assessment play a significant role in successful treatment of the critical colic.

The kidneys of the dog are paired, reddish brown, and bean-shaped.

It is important that the technician examines and inform the surgeon of any abnormalities before the patient is anesthetized.

The recovery period is a very important period where vigilance is the key as complications such as hypoventilation; hypoxemia, hypothermia, pain, and excitation are not uncommon.

There are many factors that play a role in airway management and ventilation.

Class IV laser therapy is a profit center that empowers you to provide advanced care and market your practice as a state-of-the-art facility.

Before any mention of surgery is made pain management must be addressed.

Clinicians working with "exotic species" should establish consistent anesthetic and analgesic protocols to manage cases that require diagnostic or surgical procedures.

San Diego - Veterinarians can earn more than 300 CE credits and peruse the offerings of numerous product vendors at the American College of Veterinary Surgeons' Symposium in San Diego Oct. 22-25 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt.

In order to prevent Maggie--a large-breed dog, from licking the wounded area, her owners reversed the Elizabethan collar.

Editor's note: SurgerySTAT is a collaborative column between the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) and DVM Newsmagazine. In September, Shawn Mattson, DVM, DVSc, BSc will discuss "Treating Subchondral Bone Cysts in the Fetlock Joint." Dr. Mattson is an ACVS board-certified surgeon who practices at Moore and Company Veterinary Services, a full-service equine hospital in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Dr. Mattson, previously at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, Ontario, has published scientific articles in the American Journal of Veterinary Research and Veterinary Surgery related to research on orthopedic infections in horses.

While this review will focus on postoperative pain management, it is important that we acknowledge the critical perioperative elements that lay the foundation for ideal patient pain management. Pain control needs to be in place before the surgeon's blade contacts skin in order to minimize central and peripheral sensitization. Without adequate pre-emptive analgesia, the nociceptive process ramps up unabated by general anesthesia. Receptor sensitivity increases and structural rewiring can occur.

The stage was all mine. With trembling hands, I went to work. ... As sheer dumb luck would have it, the surgery went perfectly.

Ligating the ovarian pedicles during an ovariohysterectomy in a large or obese dog can be a challenging task, especially if the ovarian pedicles are thick or surrounded by excessive adipose tissue that is not easily incorporated into simple encircling ligatures.

Amputation is a painful procedure, so aggressive, multimodal analgesia is necessary. The patient should receive a premedication that includes a pure mu agonist opioid such as morphine, fentanyl, oxymorphone or hydromorphone.

Three beneficial reconstructive surgery techniques--the adjustable horizontal mattress suture, the mesh skin graft, and punch grafts in pockets--are underused by practitioners. These techniques require no special equipment and are easily accomplished.

We prefer to do surgery in the morning - my favorite time of day - before the telephone starts ringing and emergencies begin showing up. It's peaceful, and surgery usually can be done without hurry or distraction.