Clinical outcome of permanent femoral artery ligation in four dogs

Four dogs experienced intraoperative iatrogenic arterial injury during orthopaedic surgeries of the pelvic limb. After various haemostatic techniques failed, intraoperative haemostasis was achieved only by permanent ligation of the femoral artery. All dogs were re-examined clinically and radiographically between 6 and 26 weeks postoperatively (short-term follow-ups). For the purpose of this study, three dogs were contacted for a long-term re-examination (orthopaedic and neurological) more than 2 years postoperatively (24-39 months), and their owners completed the Liverpool osteoarthritis in dog questionnaire. Visual gait analysis was scored subjectively (n = 3), and was recorded objectively using a pressure-sensitive walkway (n = 2). No short- or long-term complications related to the permanent femoral artery ligation were encountered, and limb function was normal for the dogs rechecked long-term. Femoral artery ligation can be considered a last resort but safe salvage procedure in dogs with intraoperative arterial bleeding of the pelvic limb when standard haemostatic techniques have failed.