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Peer-reviewed veterinary case report

Outcomes of adrenal tumor surgery after rupture in dogs and cats

By Traverson, Marine et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2023·College of Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed

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Original publication title: Adrenal tumors treated by adrenalectomy following spontaneous rupture carry an overall favorable prognosis: retrospective evaluation of outcomes in 59 dogs and 3 cats (2000-2021).

Plain-English summary

A group of 59 dogs and 3 cats with ruptured adrenal tumors underwent surgery to remove the affected glands. Many pets showed signs of acute bleeding and required emergency surgery, which carried some risks, including a 21% chance of death shortly after the operation. Despite these challenges, the overall survival rate was promising, with pets living a median of about 574 days after surgery. The study suggests that if pets are stable enough, delaying surgery and minimizing additional procedures can improve their chances of recovery.

People also search for: dog adrenal tumor surgery · cat adrenal gland removal recovery · dog bleeding from adrenal tumor

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a retrospective multi-institutional study reporting short- and long-term outcomes of adrenalectomy in patients presenting with acute hemorrhage secondary to spontaneous adrenal rupture. ANIMALS: 59 dogs and 3 cats. METHODS: Medical records of dogs and cats undergoing adrenalectomy between 2000 and 2021 for ruptured adrenal masses were reviewed. Data collected included clinical presentation, preoperative diagnostics, surgical report, anesthesia and hospitalization findings, histopathology, adjuvant treatments, and long-term outcome (recurrence, metastasis, and survival). RESULTS: Median time from hospital admission to surgery was 3 days, with 34% of surgeries being performed emergently (within 1 day of presentation). Need for intraoperative blood transfusion was significantly associated with emergent surgery and presence of active intraoperative hemorrhage. The short-term (≤ 14 days) complication and mortality rates were 42% and 21%, respectively. Negative prognostic factors for short-term survival included emergent surgery, intraoperative hypotension, and performing additional surgical procedures. Diagnoses included adrenocortical neoplasia (malignant [41%], benign [12%], and undetermined [5%]), pheochromocytoma (38%), a single case of adrenal fibrosis and hemorrhage (2%), and a single case of hemangiosarcoma (2%). Local recurrence and metastasis of adrenocortical carcinoma were confirmed in 1 and 3 cases, respectively. Overall median survival time was 574 days and 900 days when short-term mortality was censored. No significant relationship was found between histopathological diagnosis and survival. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Adrenalectomy for ruptured adrenal gland masses was associated with similar short- and long-term outcomes as compared with previously reported nonruptured cases. If hemodynamic stability can be achieved, delaying surgery and limiting additional procedures appear indicated to optimize short-term survival.

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Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37734721/