Outcomes of Treatment of Eyelids and Third Eyelid Tumours in Dogs Using High-Frequency Radiowave Surgery

In human ophthalmology, the benefits of using high-frequency radiowave (HFR) electrocautery for surgical procedures were demonstrated and include effective haemostasis, shorter surgery times, and rapid recovery. In canine eyelid surgery, intraoperative bleeding is a common feature that may obscure the surgical field view and lead to the increased swelling of adjacent tissues, bruising, and pain. To evaluate the efficacy and benefits of HFR electrocautery in canine eyelid and third eyelid surgery, the medical records of 48 surgical excisions of eyelid tumours (involving up to one-third of the eyelid length) and 4 third eyelid excisions were reviewed. The information was collected including the breed, age, clinical signs, HFR power setting and mode of the surgical unit, electrode used for the surgery, intraoperative complications, histopathological diagnosis, and postoperative outcomes. Surgical techniques were performed using the Surgitron Dual 3.8 MHz Frequency RF device (Ellman International, Oceanside, NY, USA). Intraoperative bleeding was recorded as absent or very mild, and the surgical procedures were very fast. No complications occurred during the procedures. Healing within 10 days was observed in all the dogs. No tumour recurrences were recorded at the 12-month follow-up. HFR electrosurgery proved to be a safe, effective, and easy-to-perform technique for the removal of eyelid and third eyelid tumours in dogs.

Technological Advances in Surgical Equipment in Exotic Pet Medicine

Surgery can be challenging in exotic pets owing to their small size and blood volume, and their increased anesthetic risk compared with small animals. Various devices are available to facilitate suturing, cutting, and hemostasis in the human and veterinary fields. These surgical equipment improve the simplicity, rapidity, and effectiveness of surgery. Vessel-sealing devices, radiosurgery, lasers, and ultrasound devices are commonly used because of their ease of use and increase in surgical efficiency. Other surgical devices are available (eg, stapling devices) but are not discussed in this article.

Gross and histologic evaluation of effects of photobiomodulation, silver sulfadiazine, and a topical antimicrobial product on experimentally induced full-thickness skin wounds in green iguanas (Iguana iguana)

OBJECTIVE To assess effects of photobiomodulation, silver sulfadiazine, and a topical antimicrobial product for the treatment of experimentally induced full-thickness skin wounds in green iguanas (Iguana iguana). ANIMALS 16 healthy subadult green iguanas. PROCEDURES Iguanas were anesthetized, and three 5-mm cutaneous biopsy specimens were obtained from each iguana (day 0). Iguanas were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups, each of which had a control treatment. Wounds in the topical treatment group received silver sulfadiazine, a topical antimicrobial product, or no treatment. Wounds in the laser treatment group received treatment with a class 4 laser at 5 or 10 J/cm² or no treatment. Wound measurements were obtained daily for 14 days. Iguanas were euthanized, and treatment sites were evaluated microscopically to detect ulceration, bacterial contamination, reepithelialization, necrosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and collagen maturity. RESULTS On day 14, wounds treated with a laser at 10 J/cm² were significantly smaller than those treated with silver sulfadiazine, but there were no other significant differences among treatments. Histologically, there were no significant differences in ulceration, bacterial infection, reepithelialization, necrosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and collagen maturity among treatments. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Photobiomodulation at 10 J/cm² appeared to be a safe treatment that was tolerated well by green iguanas, but it did not result in substantial improvement in histologic evidence of wound healing, compared with results for other treatments or no treatment.

Effects of low-level laser therapy on the healing of surgically closed incisions and surgically created open wounds in dogs

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on primarily closed incisions and full thickness open wounds in dogs.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective, masked, placebo-controlled design.

ANIMAL POPULATION

Healthy intact female dogs (n = 10).

METHODS

Dogs underwent bilateral flank ovariectomy procedures, and open wounds were created bilaterally with a punch biopsy. Each side of the dog (incision and open wound) was randomly assigned to the treatment (TX) group or the control (CN) group. The TX group received LLLT once daily for 5 days with a 980-nm laser and a total energy density of 5 J/cm² . The CN group received a sham treatment (laser turned off) for an identical amount of time each day. The wounds were assessed visually; measured; photographed at postoperative days 3, 7, 11, and 14; and biopsied on postoperative days 7 and 14. A 2-way repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance was used to analyze differences between groups.

RESULTS

There was no difference between groups for subjective assessment of healing time and wound measurements (P = .7). There was no difference in histopathologic assessment except that the CN group had more necrosis and perivascular lymphocytes and macrophages at day 7 (P = .03). The TX group had more perivascular lymphocytes and macrophages at day 14 (P = .01).

CONCLUSION

LLLT did not appear to influence the healing of surgically created incisions and small wounds with the methodology reported here.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Results of this study do not support recommending LLLT to stimulate healing of uncomplicated, small wounds and incisions.

Surgery and electrochemotherapy for the treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in a yellow-bellied slider (Trachemys scripta scripta)

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 5-year-old female yellow-bellied slider (Trachemys scripta scripta) was referred for evaluation of a 2-month nonhealing ulcerated mass on the dorsal aspect of the neck.

CLINICAL FINDINGS

The turtle was quiet, alert, and responsive, with a 2 × 1.5-cm ulcerated lesion on the neck. Signs of discomfort were observed during manipulation of the neck; no other abnormalities were detected during physical evaluation.

TREATMENT AND OUTCOME

Following total body radiography and hematologic and serum biochemical analysis, the turtle was anesthetized and the mass was surgically removed. The excised tissue was submitted for histologic evaluation. A histopathologic diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was made. Further surgical revision was not an option because of the extensive nature of the lesion; therefore, the tumor bed was treated with electrochemotherapy (ECT). Two sessions of ECT were performed with a 2-week interval between treatments. Electrochemotherapy involved intratumoral administration of bleomycin followed by trains of biphasic electric pulses. The treatment was well tolerated, and the turtle was disease free after 12 months.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

ECT resulted in good local control of SCC and should be considered as a possible postsurgical adjuvant treatment in reptiles with cutaneous tumors.

Assessment of platelet-derived growth factor using A splinted full thickness dermal wound model in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps)

Wounds in reptiles are a common reason for presentation to a veterinarian. At this time there is limited information on effective topical medications to aid in wound closure. The objectives of this study were to translate the splinted, full-thickness dermal wound model, validated in mice, to the bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) and to determine the effect of topical becaplermin (BP), a platelet-derived growth factor (0.01%), on the rate of wound closure. Ten bearded dragons were anesthetized and two full-thickness cutaneous wounds were made on the dorsum of each lizard. Encircling splints were applied surrounding each wound and subsequently covered by a semi-occlusive dressing. Five lizards had one wound treated with BP and the adjacent wound treated with a vehicle control. Five additional lizards had one wound treated with saline and the second wound treated with a vehicle control. Wounds were imaged daily, and the wound area was measured using digital image analysis. The change in percentage wound closure over 17 days and the time to 50% wound closure was compared among the four treatment groups. There was no significant difference in wound closure rates between BP-treated and saline-treated wounds or in the time to 50% wound closure between any treatments. Vehicle-treated wounds adjacent to saline-treated wounds closed significantly slower than did BP (P < 0.010), saline (P < 0.001), and vehicle-treated wounds adjacent to BP-treated wounds (P < 0.013). Our preliminary study indicates that the splinted wound model, with modifications, may be used to determine wound closure rates in bearded dragons. When compared with saline, BP did not have a significant effect on wound closure rates, while the vehicle alone delayed wound closure. Histologic analysis of experimentally created wounds throughout the wound healing process is needed to further evaluate the effects of these treatments on reptile dermal wound healing.