Prospective Evaluation of Laparoscopic Pancreatic Biopsies in 11 Healthy Cats

Abstract

Background: Definitive diagnosis of feline pancreatic disease is dependent on histologic examination of biopsies. Hypothesis: Laparoscopic punch biopsy of the pancreas does not significantly affect pancreatic health or clinical status of healthy cats, and provides an adequate biopsy sample for histopathology.Animals: Eleven healthy female domestic shorthair cats. Methods: Effects of laparoscopic pancreatic visualization alone in 5 cats compared with laparoscopic pancreatic visualization and punch biopsy in 6 cats were studied. Temperature, pulse, and respiratory rate, physical examination, and daily caloric intake were evaluated for 1 week before and 1 week after the procedure. Pain scores (simple descriptive score and dynamic interactive visual assessment score) were evaluated hourly during the 1st 6 hours postprocedure. Complete blood cell counts, serum biochemical profiles, serum feline pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity, and urine specific gravity were evaluated before the procedure and at 6, 24, and 72 hours postprocedure. One month postprocedure, during sterilization, the pancreas was reassessed visually in all cats, and microscopically in the biopsy group.Results: For all variables evaluated, there were no significant differences between biopsy and control cats. Re-evaluation of the pancreatic biopsy site 1 month later documented a normal tissue response to biopsy. The laparoscopic punch biopsy forceps provided high-quality pancreatic biopsy samples with an average size of 5 mmÂ4 mm on 2-dimensional cut section.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Laparoscopic pancreatic biopsy is a useful and safe technique in healthy cats.

Laboratory Tests for Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Diseases

“…100 Similarly, pancreatic laparoscopic biopsies had no effect on fPLI in healthy cats. 101 However, because these studies were performed in healthy animals and the effect of fine-needle aspiration or biopsy in an abnormal pancreas is unknown, it is recommended to perform blood sampling for PLI before sampling of pancreatic tissue.…”

Prospective evaluation of access incision position for minimally invasive surgical organ exposure in cats

“…Recently, the technique of double balloon endoscopy was described and was found to provide access to much deeper regions of the small intestine. 6 A number of laparoscopic organ biopsy techniques have been described in the veterinary literature and include completely laparoscopic techniques (mainly for liver, 7,8 pancreatic, 9,10 and kidney biopsy 11 ) as well as laparoscopic-assisted methods (principally used when gastrointestinal biopsies are required) performed with 12,13 or without 14 a wound retraction device or single-port access device. The quality of endoscopic biopsies has a profound effect on the ability to detect lesions, 5 and use of these samples may limit the ability to differentiate among the most commonly observed infiltrative conditions that affect the gastrointestinal tract of cats.…”

Laparoscopic-Assisted Surgical Procedures

“…In a study of laparoscopic pancreatic biopsy in cats, the laparoscopic punch cup forceps provided highquality pancreatic biopsy samples with an average size of 5 mm  4 mm on twodimensional cut section. 23 However, if a larger sample is desired, the right limb of the pancreas may be exteriorized in an LA approach for sampling. 24 A recent study 25 evaluated different access incision locations on the ventral abdominal midline for minimally invasive access and collection of multiple organ biopsy samples in cats.…”