Postmortem evaluation of surgery site leakage by use of in situ isolated pulsatile perfusion after partial liver lobectomy in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate postmortem surgery site leakage by use of in situ isolated pulsatile perfusion after partial liver lobectomies.


METHODS
10 healthy mixed-breed male dogs.


METHODS
Dogs were anesthetized, and 5 surgical techniques (pretied suture loop, energy-based sealer-divider, harmonic scalpel, suction with clip application, or suction with use of a thoracoabdominal stapler) were used to perform 5 partial liver lobectomies in each dog. Dogs were euthanatized, and the portal vein and hepatic artery were cannulated and perfused with a modified kidney perfusion machine (pulsatile flow for arterial perfusion and nonpulsatile flow for portal perfusion). Lobectomy sites were inspected for leakage of perfusate, and time until detection of leakage was recorded. The techniques in each dog were ranked on the basis of time until leakage. Time until leakage and rankings for each surgical technique were analyzed by use of an ANOVA.


RESULTS
Leakage of perfusate was recorded in 44 lobes at supraphysiologic pressures. Of the 6 lobes without leakage, a pretied suture loop procedure was performed in 5 and a harmonic scalpel procedure was performed in 1. Time until leakage and the ranking differed significantly between the pretied suture loop and the other techniques. Time until leakage and ranking did not differ significantly among the other techniques.


CONCLUSIONS
Time until leakage of perfusate was greater for the pretied suture loop technique than for the other techniques, and that technique did not fail in 5 of 10 lobes. However, all techniques appeared to be safe for clinical use.
Risselada
Marije
M
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0126, USA. RisseladaM@vetmed.ufl.edu
Polyak
Maximilian M R
MM
Ellison
Gary W
GW
Bacon
Nicholas J
NJ
Van Gilder
James M
JM
Coomer
Alastair R
AR
Thieman
Kelley E
KE
D000818:Animals; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005065:Euthanasia; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D010477:Perfusion; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D013353:Subdural Effusion / Q000662:veterinary