title: Complication Rates After Bilateral versus Unilateral Total Ear Canal Ablation with Lateral Bulla Osteotomy for End-Stage Inflammatory Ear Disease in Dogs: 79 Ears.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether perioperative complication rates are different between unilateral (ULS) versus single-stage bilateral (BLSS) total ear canal ablation-lateral bulla osteotomy (TECA-LBO) surgeries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifity-seven dogs (79 ears) undergoing TECA-LBO at a single institution over 14 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of dogs undergoing TECA-LBO for end-stage inflammatory non-neoplastic ear disease from March 1999 to September 2013 at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital were evaluated for intraoperative and early postoperative complications associated with the procedure. Inclusion criteria were clinical and/or histopathologic diagnosis of chronic otitis externa, surgical treatment by TECA-LBO, and a minimum of 2 week follow-up data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty dogs (40 ears) underwent BLSS and 37 dogs (39 ears) had ULS. Complications were recorded for 29 of 40 ears (72.5%) in the BLSS group (40.0% facial nerve, 15.0% ocular, and 32.5% minor incisional complications) and 25 of 39 ears (64.1%) in the ULS group (33.3% facial nerve, 12.8% ocular, and 23.1% minor incisional complications). Dogs undergoing BLSS did not have a significantly higher total complication rate, or higher neurologic, ocular, or incisional complication rates, than the ULS procedure. No major anesthetic complications affecting outcome were recorded for either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anesthetic and early surgical complication rates after ULS and BLSS were not significantly different in our study. Offering single-stage bilateral TECA-LBO procedures for otherwise healthy dogs with end-stage inflammatory otitis externa is a viable treatment option without additional risk for complication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.
authors.forename: Kristin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.
authors.forename: Daniel D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Smeak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D010032:Otitis Externa / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D013506:Otologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies