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The recently developed minimally invasive techniques of ovariohysterectomy (OVH) have been studied in dogs in order to optimize their benefits and decrease risks to the patients. The purpose of this study was to compare surgical time, complications and technical difficulties of transvaginal total-NOTES, singleport laparoscopic-assisted and conventional OVH in bitches. Twelve bitches were submitted to total-NOTES (NOTES group), while 13 underwent single-port laparoscopic-assisted (SPLA group) and 15 were submitted to conventional OVH (OPEN group). Intra-operative period was divided into 7 stages: (1) access to abdominal cavity; (2) pneumoperitoneum; approach to the right (3) and left (4) ovarian pedicle and uterine body (5); (6) abdominal or vaginal synthesis, performed in 6 out of 12 patients of NOTES; (7) inoperative time. Overall and stages operative times, intra and postoperative complications and technical difficulties were compared among groups. Mean overall surgical time in NOTES (25.7±6.8 minutes) and SPLA (23.1±4.0 minutes) groups were shorter than in the OPEN group (34.0±6.4 minutes) (P<0.05). The intraoperative stage that required the longest time was the approach to the uterine body in the NOTES group and abdominal and cutaneous sutures in the OPEN group. There was no difference regarding the rates of complications. Major complications included postoperative bleeding requiring reoperation in a bitch in the OPEN group, while minor complications included mild vaginal discharge in four patients in the NOTES group and seroma in three bitches in the SPLA group. In conclusion, total-NOTES and SPLA OVH were less time-consuming then conventional OVH in bitches. All techniques presented complications, which were properly managed.Keywords: canine, spay, laparoscopy, operative time, transvaginal approach Palavras-chave: caninos, castração, laparoscopia, tempo operatório, abordagem transvaginal RESUMO O emprego de novas técnicas minimamente invasivas de ovário-histerectomia (OHE) vem sendo estudado em cães com o intuito de otimizar seus benefícios e reduzir os riscos aos pacientes. O presente estudo objetivou comparar o tempo cirúrgico, as complicações e dificuldades técnicas entre as abordagens por total-NOTES transvaginal, videoassistida com único portal e por celiotomia para ovário-histerectomia (OVH) em cadelas. Foram operados 12 animais por total-NOTES (grupo NOTES), 13 pela técnica videoassistida (grupo SPLA) e 15 pela técnica convencional (grupo OPEN

The aim of the study was to compare the use of open ovariectomy, to the video-assisted laparoscopic approach or total laparoscopic ovariectomy in Santa Ines ewes. Surgical time and body weight gain/loss were recorded and post-surgical pain assessed using a behavioral scale. Laparotomy involved a longer surgical time (75 ± 29.5 min), than the video-assisted (37.5 ± 13.04 min; p < 0.05) or total laparoscopic approach (27.5 ± 2.89; p < 0.01). Behavioral pain recorded score was higher for the laparotomy ovariectomy (5.6 ± 0.5), compared to the video-assisted (0.3 ± 0.5) and laparoscopic approaches (0.3 ± 0.5) (p < 0.0001). No significant differences were recorded regarding body weight gain/loss during the first 30 days post-surgery, between the techniques. The video-assisted laparoscopic and total laparoscopic techniques of ovariectomy showed a tendency to have more advantages than the use of laparotomy as such. Less surgical trauma, a shorter surgical time, minimal postsurgical stress and better surgical recovery being highlighted as the main advantages of the endoscopic approaches in sheep.

ABSTRACT:The purpose of the current study was to develop a new tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) technique, by replacing the original titanium cage with a Ricinus communis polyurethane resin-made wedge polymer. The implants were manufactured using the same size and angles of the original titanium cages, though larger distally. The modified TTA technique (TTAm) was performed in 42 knees of 35 dogs diagnosed with rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament (RCCL). Animals were submitted to radiographic and gait assessments preoperatively, early postoperatively and following 30, 60, 90 and 120 days. All animals exhibited good clinical outcome. There were no cases of impaired healing or bone resorption until 120 days postoperatively and there was no patient with patellar distress after TTAm. Scores of gait evaluation revealed differences between time points. There were also differences between the evaluations of control and pre-and post-operative times. However, there was no difference among the assessment of 30 days and the following time points. The use of the polyurethane polymer for TTAm was advantageous, not only due to biocompatibility and osseointegration, but also for providing easy handling; it can be moulded intra-operatively if necessary. Moreover, it allows precise adaptation to the osteotomy site, as opposed to the original TTA metallic implants, which cannot be moulded. It is suggested that incision lengths for TTAm are slightly shorter than those required for the conventional TTA as this requires the distal fixation of the plate at the beginning of the middle third of the body of the tibia. The TTAm does not require the use of fixation plates and it is performed only at the cranial aspect of the tibia. The method of attachment of the tibial tuberosity in the craniocaudal direction was effective. The setting associated with the use of the polyurethane polymer allowed simplification of the technique for easier implementation, and the amount of implant material required to perform TTAm was reduced in comparison to the conventional TTA. This technique can be used for treating the knees of dogs with RCCL, and provides for easy execution, less invasiveness to the tissues of the knee joint and more versatility in comparison to conventional TTA.

This study aimed to evaluate the sonographic characteristics of the udder and teats and to determine the Doppler indexes of mammary artery in healthy and undergoing subclinical and clinical mastitis goats. Thirty animals among Saanen and Alpine Brown goats were arranged in three groups, healthy goats (HG), goats with subclinical mastitis (SMG) and goats with clinical mastitis (CMG). Using the B-mode, the sonographic characteristics (echotexture and echogenicity) and biometry (diameter and area of the udder cistern, diameter and area of the teat cistern and thickness of the teat wall) were evaluated. Using Doppler ultrasonography, the vascular indexes of the mammary artery were obtained. It was observed hyperechogenicity with solid component in the gland cistern when comparing animals with clinical mastitis and healthy mammary tissue. Regarding the echotexture of the breast tissue, there was heterogeneity in the mammary parenchyma on the three groups, for the milk, it was observed homogeneity for animals on HG and SMG and heterogeneity for animals on CMG. Grey-scale quantitative assessment revealed increase in echogenicity (mean value) for all the structures when comparing the three groups. Biometry did not reveal statistical difference between groups, for none of the evaluated structures. Doppler examination of the mammary artery showed the decrease of end diastolic velocity and raise of pulsatility index between groups. The association of B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography is useful for the evaluation of the udder of dairy goats with mastitis. It is a sensitive and specific method for the study of this disease. Doppler mode was unable to establish reliable criteria for diagnosis of subclinical mastitis. Moreover, the quantification of echogenicity is a useful technique for the evaluation of the milk in animals with mastitis; therefore, it is suggested that it can be used as complementary technique for the diagnosis of mastitis in goats.

The purpose of study was to assess long-term clinical and radiographic aspects of dogs’ stifle joints which had undergone a modified tibial tuberosity advancement technique (mTTA). A total of 15 stifles that had undergone mTTA for CCL disease of 11 patients were included in this study. Assessments involved patient’s gait analysis, cranial drawer and tibial compression tests, stifle goniometry range of articular motion, thigh and leg girth and radiographic evidence of progression of osteoarthrosis. Variables were compared between operated and healthy limbs and among moments (M0) on the early postop; (M1) 120 days postop; and (M2) approximately 5 years following surgery. A questionnaire regarding owner’s perceptions after approximately 5 years of surgery was assessed. Most dogs presented positive response to cranial drawer and tibial compression tests on operated knees. There was also decrease on goniometry and thigh girth and increase in leg girth. Radiographic evidence of progression of osteoarthritis was seen especially on the long-term follow-up (M2). On gait analysis, most animals presented some degree of lameness in different conditions, in contrast to owners’ perceptions. Osteoarthritis still develops in dogs following mTTA surgery for CCL disease. However, owners were overall satisfied with their recovery and would be willing to accept indication of mTTA for dogs with ruptured CCL.

Ultrasound (B-mode) was used to analyze follicular events in 12 trained female owl monkeys (Aotus azarai infulatus). The animals were examined every 48 hours for over 90 days to measure and map follicular growth in both ovaries and to measure (using Doppler velocimetry) local hemodynamic changes during the peri-ovulatory stage. There were 44 follicular growth events, each with two or three follicular waves, and a mean ± SEM interval between events of 17 ± 1.13 days. There were various hemodynamic changes during follicular growth; both vascular resistance index and pulsatility index decreased during the time when the follicle diameter peaked. Thus, both B-mode and Doppler ultrasound were useful for monitoring ovarian follicular events in owl monkeys.

Reproductive efficiency of adult and prepubertal goats subjected to repeated follicular aspiration [ ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to assess the reproductive response of adult and prepubertal goats subjected to repeated laparoscopic ovum pick-up (LOPU). The study animals were divided into two groups, specifically, adult nanny goats (GA, n=10) and prepubertal nanny goats (GP, n=10), which were subjected to estrous synchronization and ovarian stimulation for LOPU. Both groups underwent six LOPU procedures at seven-day intervals and were subsequently subjected to controlled mating and pregnancy diagnosis to evaluate their future fertility. The study showed a reduction in the number of follicles visualized and in the amount and quality of the oocytes that were recovered and exposed to in vitro maturation. As indicated by the fertility test, however, no complications were found during the laparoscopic procedures that would impair the reproductive future of the animals. Therefore, a viable number of oocytes were obtained even with the decreased reproductive efficiency, proving that repeated LOPUs do not interfere with the reproductive of adult and prepubertal nanny goats. These results indicate a positive aspect of this procedure, allowing for increasing reproductive performance of this kind, when used for the production in vitro.