Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
The use of vacuum-assisted closure in the management of septic peritonitis in six dogs.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
- Year:
- 2012
- Authors:
- Buote, Nicole J & Havig, Marc E
- Affiliation:
- Surgery Department · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
This study looked at how vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) can help treat septic peritonitis, a serious infection in the abdominal area, in six dogs. The dogs were diagnosed using tests that checked for bacteria in their abdominal fluid or looked at differences in certain blood levels. After surgery to address the cause of the infection, the VAC method was used to help with healing. Out of the six dogs, three survived long enough to have their abdomen closed up again and were sent home, which is similar to results seen in other studies. Overall, the study suggests that using VAC is a good option for managing this condition in dogs.
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to describe the appropriate surgical technique, postoperative monitoring, and complications encountered with use of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) in six dogs with confirmed septic peritonitis. Initial diagnosis of septic peritonitis was performed by measuring either the blood-to-fluid lactate ratio and glucose concentration differences or cytologic verification of intracellular bacteria. After appropriate surgical procedures were performed to manage the primary cause of peritoneal sepsis, a VAC was performed. Serum and abdominal fluid protein levels were measured, and all complications were noted during the postoperative period. Three of the six dogs (50%) survived to the secondary closure and were subsequent discharged, which is similar to previous studies where the abdomen was either closed primarily or treated with open abdominal drainage. No major complications occurred with bandage management during hospitalization. The results of this study support VAC as a feasible technique for managing septic peritonitis.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22474052/