VETERINARY MEDICINE, Apr 1, 2006

Features

Symposium on key gastrointestinal surgeries

By Karen M. Tobias, DVM, MS, DACVS

The articles in this symposium provide an overview of indications, techniques, and complications related to a variety of gastrointestinal surgical procedures.

Key gastrointestinal surgeries: Gastrotomy

By Elizabeth Shuler, BS , Karen M. Tobias, DVM, MS, DACVS

Gastrotomy is a routine and relatively safe surgical procedure with several indications, but appropriate technique is vital to preventing complications.

Key gastrointestinal surgeries: Incisional gastropexy

By Kara Watson, BS , Karen M. Tobias, DVM, MS, DACVS

The primary indication for gastropexy is to prevent the development or recurrence of gastric dilatation-volvulus.

Key gastrointestinal surgeries: Intestinal biopsy

By Laura Brandt, DVM , Karen M. Tobias, DVM, MS, DACVS

You may be hesitant to perform a full-thickness incisional biopsy to obtain an intestinal tissue sample, but in many cases, this technique is preferred. In this article, we review when incisional biopsy is best and provide a simple step-by-step guide to the procedure to increase your confidence.

Key gastrointestinal surgeries: Intestinal anastomosis

By Karen M. Tobias, DVM, MS, DACVS , Ryan Ayres, BS

Intestinal anastomosis is an important surgical procedure that connects two sections of the intestines once a diseased portion has been removed. A key concern is to prevent leakage at the anastomosis site and subsequent peritonitis, but this complication can be avoided if the procedure is done correctly and preventive measures are taken.

Key gastrointestinal surgeries: Omentalization

By Erik Anderson, BS , Karen M. Tobias, DVM, MS, DACVS

Omentalization, the placement of omentum around organs or within cavities to improve vascularization or drainage, has been used in a variety of abdominal, thoracic, oncologic, and reconstructive surgical procedures.

Departments

Editors' Note: Sharing their knowledge

By Margaret Rampey

This month, we all benefit from Dr. Karen Tobias' dedication to teaching and bettering the standard of care in veterinary medicine.

An Interview with... Dr. Robert M. Miller

This well-known practitioner, author, cartoonist, and horseman calls himself a pathological realist. As he puts it, "Real life is far more interesting than any work of fiction."

Clinical Exposures: Biliary cystadenomatosis in a ferret

By Neil Allison, DVM, DACVP

A 6.5-year-old neutered male ferret was presented for evaluation of anorexia and a six-month history of progressive abdominal enlargement.

Idea Exchange: Do-it-yourself neuter shield

When performing feline castrations, I use a neuter shield to help prevent stray hair from getting attached to the cord.

Idea Exchange: A good way to make time fly while you're flying

While flying, jot down several of your useful ideas.

Idea Exchange: How to get that new coffee smell

When my husband and I practiced large-animal medicine, odors from patients sometimes lingered in our ambulatory truck.

Idea Exchange: An idea that's a real space saver

To keep intravenous pumps away from the front of the cages and save floor space, hang the pumps from a handrail fastened to the end of a bank of cages.

Idea Exchange: Place red rubber urethral catheters more easily

Red rubber urethral catheters can be difficult to place in female dogs since the catheters are not as rigid as polypropylene catheters.

Mind Over Miller: An elephant-size job

By Robert M. Miller, DVM

Dr. Dean Hendrickson, a veterinary surgeon at Colorado State University, is part of a team that has been performing vasectomies on wild elephants in overpopulated South African game reserves. The idea is to sterilize the dominant bulls, which will then breed with the female elephants without impregnating them.