Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with ruptured gallbladder mucocele tested for bile duct blockage
By Kim, Yujin & Lee, Sungin·Published in Veterinary medicine and science·2025·Department of Veterinary Surgery, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Intra-Operative Cholangiography With Indocyanine Green Used to Assess Bile Duct Patency in a Dog With a Ruptured Gallbladder Mucocele.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old female dog was brought in because she was lethargic and not eating. Blood tests showed signs of liver issues, and an ultrasound revealed a ruptured gallbladder mucocele, which can cause serious problems. During surgery, a special dye called indocyanine green was used to check if the bile duct was blocked. The dye showed a partial blockage, but the surgeon was able to clear it with gentle manipulation, avoiding the need for more invasive procedures. Five months later, the dog was doing well without any signs of complications.
People also search for: dog lethargy and not eating · gallbladder mucocele in dogs · bile duct obstruction treatment in dogs
Abstract
In human laparoscopic hepatobiliary surgery, near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) indocyanine green (ICG) is commonly employed for intraoperative cholangiography to delineate anatomical structures; however, it is not yet used in veterinary medicine. This is the first veterinary case of ICG cholangiography used to confirm common bile duct (CBD) patency in a dog with a ruptured gallbladder mucocele (GBM). A 10-year-old female dog presented with lethargy and anorexia. Blood analysis revealed increased ALT, ALP, GGT, total bilirubin and C-reactive protein levels. Ultrasonography revealed a ruptured GBM. To evaluate CBD patency during surgery, ICG 0.05 mg/kg was injected intravenously 3 h preoperatively. During cholecystectomy, real-time NIRF image of ICG in the CBD showed a filling defect, indicating a partial obstruction within the lumen. After gentle massaging manipulation, CBD patency was confirmed using the NIRF image. No catheterisation or flushing of the CBD was required. The patient showed no relevant clinical signs of biliary stasis 5 months post-surgery. Intraoperative ICG cholangiography efficiently and easily assessed CBD patency in real-time. In this case, CBD patency was achieved by external manipulation with the surgeon's fingers. Therefore, catheterisation or flushing was not necessary. Since enterotomy or cholecystectomy was unnecessary, complications from the leakage of intestinal content or bile were avoided.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40474769/