Complications of ovariohysterectomy procedures performed in 1880 dogs

Summary

Objective: Canine ovariohysterectomy (OVH) is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in companion animal practice. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency and types of complications related to OVH. Material and methods: The clinical records of all street dogs admitted to the public dog shelters of the Veneto Region (Italy) between January 2010 and December 2011 were reviewed for dogs that had undergone OVH. Specific comparison was made between anaesthesia time, body weight of the patients and intra-and postoperative complications (occurring up to 4 weeks postoperatively). The data were statistically analyzed. Results: Complications were recorded in 141 of 1880 bitches corresponding to an overall complication rate of 7.5%. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) weight of the bitches was 25.7 ± 6.7 kg and mean ± SD anaesthesia time was 42.8 ± 8.6 minutes. Distinct types of complications included significant ovarian artery haemorrhage, haemorrhage from the surgical wound, wound healing complications, urinary incontinence, ovarian remnant syndrome. Twenty-one patients had intraoperative complications and 120 patients had postoperative complications. Analysis of the grouped data showed a significant association between body weight and the incidence of complications. There was also a significant association between anaesthesia time and the incidence of complications. The results of this study indicate that patient weight is related to the incidence of complications and the odds of a complication occurring increase by a factor of 1.03 for every one kilogram of increase in patient weight. The period of general anaesthesia also appears to be related to the incidence of complications and the odds of a complication occurring increase by approximately 2% for each additional minute in anaesthesia time. Conclusion: Increasing patient weight and duration of anaesthesia time were found to be risk factors for the incidence of complications of OVH in the bitch.

Zusammenfassung

Gegenstand und Ziel: Die Ovariohysterektomie ist einer der häufigsten chirurgischen Eingriffe in der Kleintierpraxis. Ziel der Studie war, Häufigkeit und Art der Komplikationen nach einer Ovariohysterektomie zu untersuchen. Material und Methoden: Überprüft wurden die klinischen Daten aller streunenden Hunde, die zwischen Januar 2010 und Dezember 2011 Aufnahme in öffentlichen Tierheimen der Region Veneto, Italien, gefunden hatten. Von den kastrierten Hündinnen wurden das Körpergewicht, die Dauer der Anästhesie sowie die intra-und postoperativen (bis 4 Wochen nach dem Eingriff) aufgetretenen Komplikationen registriert und statistisch ausgewertet. Ergebnisse: Komplikationen ergaben sich bei 141 von insgesamt 1880 Hündinnen, woraus eine Komplikationsrate von 7,5% resultiert. Der Mittelwert ± Standardabweichung (SD) des Gewichts der Hündinnen betrug 25,7 ± 6,7 kg, die mittlere (± SD) Anästhesiedauer lag bei 42,8 ± 8,6 Minuten. Die Komplikationen umfassten relevante Blutungen der Eierstocksarterie, Blutung der chirurgischen Wunde, Wundheilungsprobleme, Harninkontinenz und Ovarrest-Syndrom. Bei 21 Patienten traten Komplikationen während der Operation auf, bei 120 Hündinnen kam es zu postoperativen Komplikationen. Die Analyse der Daten zeigte einen signifikanten Zusammenhang zwischen der Komplikationsrate und einem höheren Körpergewicht der Tiere. Ferner ließ sich ein relevanter Zusammenhang der Komplikationen mit der Anästhesiedauer nachweisen. Für jedes Kilogramm Körpergewicht mehr erhöht sich die Wahrscheinlichkeit für Komplikationen um den Faktor 1,03. Für jede zusätzliche Minute der Anästhesie wurde eine um 2% steigende Wahrscheinlichkeit für Komplikationen ermittelt. Schlussfolgerung: Bei der Ovariohysterektomie der Hündin stellen ein höheres Körpergewicht und eine längere Anästhesiedauer Risikofaktoren für die Entwicklung von Komplikationen dar.

Key words

Surgery - ovariohysterectomy - complications - side effects - spaying

Schlüsselwörter

Chirurgie - Ovariohysterektomie - Komplikationen - Nebenwirkungen - Kastration

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