Laparoscopic splenectomy in two dogs using sonicisiontm

Abstract

A 10-year-old, 24.1 kg, intact female Siberian husky dog (case 1) and 11-year-old, 5.0 kg, intact male Shihtzu dog (case 2) presented with chief complaints of polydipsia, anorexia, vomiting and exercise intolerance (case 1) and stranguria (case 2). Splenic nodule (case 1) and mass (case 2) were identified in these patients through ultrasonographic examination. Laparoscopic splenectomy was conducted for the histopathologic evaluation. In addition, laparoscopic ovariohysterectomy, liver biopsy (case 1) and castration (case 2) were performed for treatment or diagnosis of primary symptoms. Under general anesthesia, 5 mm three-portal access laparoscopic splenectomy was performed using the SonicisionTM equipment. The dogs were rotated onto right lateral recumbency. The spleen was elevated using a fan or goldfinger retractor, which revealed the ventral aspect of the spleen. Resection of vessels was started at the caudal aspect of the spleen using the SonicisionTM. The excised spleen was removed from the abdominal cavity using a 12 mm endo-bag via the enlarged instrument portal. There were no post-operative complications in either patient. Histopathologic diagnoses were splenic lymphoid hyperplasia (case 1) and splenic nodular hyperplasia (case 2). Based on our experience, laparoscopic splenectomy is sufficient to replace traditional splenectomy in small animal surgery. The use of the SonicisionTM could be a novel surgical technique for three-portal laparoscopic splenectomy, regardless of patient size. ? 2016, Korean Society of Veterinary Clinics. All rights reserved.