Use of a cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator for parenchyma-sparing and complex liver resections in dogs

Objective To report the clinical use of a cavitron ultrasonic surgical aspirator (CUSA) for the resection of hepatic lesions in dogs. Study design Clinical prospective study. Animals Eleven client-owned dogs. Methods Dogs requiring a hepatic nodulectomy, segmentectomy, and/or a lobectomy (including complex lobectomies) were enrolled. The number and location of procedures, blood loss, duration of surgery, and short-term complications were recorded. Results Dogs underwent a mean of 2.3 +/- 1.1 procedures. All masses were amenable to surgical excision regardless of their location and their relationship with major hepatic vessels. Dogs lost a median of 77 mL of blood (9.9-161), which corresponded to 4.3% of blood volume (0.8%-23.2%). The dog with the highest blood loss survived without requiring transfusion. The median duration of all CUSA procedures was 33.5 minutes (15-82). Short-term outcomes were assessed for the first 15 days, during which two complications were diagnosed. Cholangiohepatitis was diagnosed in one dog and resolved after medical management, and another dog developed necrotic pancreatitis and died. Conclusion Liver parenchyma-sparing nodulectomies and segmentectomies and liver lobectomies including complex lobectomies were achieved with a CUSA in all dogs. Clinical significance Use of a CUSA can be considered as an alternative for the removal of hepatic lesions in dogs.