TY - JOUR

T1 - Sonographic features of the uncomplicated postoperative abdomen in dogs treated for pyometra by ovariohysterectomy

AU - Nilsson, Mia K.

AU - Toresson, Linda

AU - Ljungvall, Ingrid

AU - Lee, Helena T. Nyman

AU - McEvoy, Fintan J.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Authors. Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Radiology.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Pyometra is a prevalent disease in intact bitches and the standard treatment is ovariohysterectomy (OHE). Published descriptions of normal sonographic findings after OHE are currently lacking. The aims of this prospective observational study were to describe and compare postoperative abdominal sonographic features for three timepoints following OHE in a group of dogs with pyometra and an uneventful recovery. A total of 22 dogs had sequential focused abdominal ultrasound examinations on days 1, 4–6, and 10–15 postsurgery. Recorded sonographic features for each examination time point and characteristics of the cervical stump and the mesovarium, size, and echogenicity of medial iliac lymph nodes (MILNs), presence of free peritoneal fluid, and pneumoperitoneum. The cervical stump appeared as a heterogenous area with a hypoechoic center surrounded by hyperechogenic tissue in all dogs. The cervical stump transverse-sectional area was larger on day 4–6 compared with day 1 and day 10–15 (P =.0009). Mesovarium ligature reactions were identified as heterogeneous and hyperechoic areas with central and/or edge shadowing in all dogs. The size and echogenicity of MILNs and the mesovarium reactions did not significantly differ among time points. Free peritoneal fluid was detected in 45%, 41%, and 9% and pneumoperitoneum in 95%, 82%, and 14% of dogs at sequential time points. Findings from this sample of dogs with an uneventful recovery following OHE due to pyometra can be used to assist veterinarians in interpreting postoperative abdominal ultrasonographic characteristics in future dogs treated surgically for pyometra.

AB - Pyometra is a prevalent disease in intact bitches and the standard treatment is ovariohysterectomy (OHE). Published descriptions of normal sonographic findings after OHE are currently lacking. The aims of this prospective observational study were to describe and compare postoperative abdominal sonographic features for three timepoints following OHE in a group of dogs with pyometra and an uneventful recovery. A total of 22 dogs had sequential focused abdominal ultrasound examinations on days 1, 4–6, and 10–15 postsurgery. Recorded sonographic features for each examination time point and characteristics of the cervical stump and the mesovarium, size, and echogenicity of medial iliac lymph nodes (MILNs), presence of free peritoneal fluid, and pneumoperitoneum. The cervical stump appeared as a heterogenous area with a hypoechoic center surrounded by hyperechogenic tissue in all dogs. The cervical stump transverse-sectional area was larger on day 4–6 compared with day 1 and day 10–15 (P =.0009). Mesovarium ligature reactions were identified as heterogeneous and hyperechoic areas with central and/or edge shadowing in all dogs. The size and echogenicity of MILNs and the mesovarium reactions did not significantly differ among time points. Free peritoneal fluid was detected in 45%, 41%, and 9% and pneumoperitoneum in 95%, 82%, and 14% of dogs at sequential time points. Findings from this sample of dogs with an uneventful recovery following OHE due to pyometra can be used to assist veterinarians in interpreting postoperative abdominal ultrasonographic characteristics in future dogs treated surgically for pyometra.

KW - canine

KW - case series

KW - genital tract

KW - postsurgery

KW - ultrasonography

U2 - 10.1111/vru.13310

DO - 10.1111/vru.13310

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 37985867

AN - SCOPUS:85177183555

VL - 64

SP - 1001

EP - 1202

JO - Veterinary Radiology

JF - Veterinary Radiology

SN - 1058-8183

IS - 6

ER -