Clinical Findings and Prognostic Factors for Dogs Undergoing Cholecystectomy for Gall Bladder Mucocele

Abstract

Objective: To report clinical findings and explore prognostic factors for dogs that had cholecystectomy for gall bladder mucocele. Study Design: Retrospective case series. Animals: Dogs (n = 43) with gall bladder mucoceles. Results: Diagnosis of gall bladder mucoceles was confirmed by histopathology and 74% were diagnosed based on preoperative abdominal ultrasonography. Intraoperative evidence of gall bladder rupture was noted in 10 dogs (23%), and 16 (37%) had evidence of previous leakage in the abdominal cavity. One dog had positive bacterial growth from the gall bladder content. The most common histopathologic findings in liver biopsies obtained at surgery were cholangiohepatitis, biliary hyperplasia, or cholestasis. Univariate analysis showed evidence of postoperative hypotension (P = .05) to be significantly negatively associated with survival. Significant difference in mean postoperative serum lactate (P = .034) and postoperative packed cell volume (P = .063) between dogs that survived and died was also noted. Conclusions: Elevations in postoperative serum lactate concentrations and immediate postoperative hypotension in dogs undergoing cholecystectomy for gall bladder mucoceles are associated with poor clinical outcome.Although a recognized disease process for several decades, the incidence of gall bladder mucoceles (GM) in dogs appears to be increasing.

Cholangitis and Cholangiohepatitis in Dogs: A Descriptive Study of 54 Cases Based on Histopathologic Diagnosis (2004–2014)

“…Therefore, performing cholecystectomy may improve patient outcomes. Prior studies evaluating dogs with biliary disease that underwent cholecystectomy reported perioperative mortality ranging from 0 to 41% . A recent study of 20 dogs focused on laparoscopic cholecystectomy for uncomplicated biliary disease and found a low complication rate and no perioperative deaths .…”

“…The incidence of cholangitis in dogs appears to be more common than previously thought . In contrast to cholangitis in cats, the clinical findings, diagnosis, and treatment of cholangitis in dogs are not well documented .…”

“…In this classification scheme, the term cholangitis is used in preference to cholangiohepatitis because involvement of the hepatic parenchyma is not a consistent feature, and if present, it is usually an extension of primary cholangitis. Neutrophilic cholecystitis also has been described, associated with bacterial infection, and may occur in combination with NC or as a solitary process . Recently, reports characterizing the treatment and outcome of neutrophilic cholecystitis have been published .…”

Association of Gallbladder Mucocele Histologic Diagnosis with Selected Drug Use in Dogs: A Matched Case‐Control Study

“…The syndrome was reported as a rare postmortem finding before 10 years ago and has emerged as one of the most commonly recognized causes of gallbladder disease in the dog 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. The extent to which diagnosis of GBM formation can be attributed to increased use of abdominal ultrasonography in dogs is unknown.…”

“…Surgical removal of the gallbladder carries a good long‐term prognosis for some dogs. However, surgery often is associated with a high mortality rate, with a median 2‐week mortality of 27% (range, 7–45%) 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 11…”