Small Animal Liver and Spleen Surgery

Question 1

What is the most common liver tumor, and the most common substype - what is prognosis?

Answer 1

Hepatocellular carconima, if massive can resect and suvive –> die of other causes

Question 2

What liver tumor do cats commonly get? Prognosis?

Answer 2

Hepatobiliary cystadenoma

Question 3

2 liver cancers that have poor prognosis b/c of metastatic rate

Answer 3

Bile Duct Carcinoma and Hepatic Neuroendocrine Tumors

Question 4

3 typical indications for liver biopsy

Answer 4

Pre-op bloodwork shows liver abnormalities, incidental liver abnormality noted at laparotomy, or if FNA contraindicated (e.g. suspect, cyst, large dog, etc)

Question 5

4 indications for splenectomy

Answer 5

splenic neoplasia (+/- hemoabdomen), splenic torsion, traumatic rupture, benign mass/hematoma/hyperplasia *note the larger the mass - more likely it is to be benign

Question 6

3 techniques for splenectomy

Answer 6

Hilar, 3 point, laparoscopic assited

Question 7

What are the 3 sites that you should ligate in the 3 ligation technique for splenectomy

Answer 7

splenic artery (from celiac) just above pancreatic branches (so as to not cut off pancreatic blood supply), L gastroepiploic arteries, short gastric vessels

Question 8

Name 3 post-op complications after splenectomy

Answer 8

Hemorrhage, vascular compromise to L limb of pancreas, portal vein thrombosis