34th Annual Scientific Meeting proceedings

Objectives:

Lung lobectomy in small animals using linear stapling is often considered the standard of care for pulmonary traumatic, neoplastic and inflammatory conditions. To the author’s knowledge, the airway leak pressures of the pre-tied ligature loop (PLL) and dual-shank (DS) titanium clips have never been experimentally evaluated when used for hilar lung lobectomy in cats. The objective of this ex vivo study was to compare seal performance of linear stapler, PLL and DS titanium clip for total lung lobectomy in a feline cadaveric model under physiologic and supraphysiologic airway pressures.

Methods:

Thirty lung lobes from five fresh feline cadavers, humanely euthanized for reasons unrelated to this study were randomized into three groups to undergo hilar lung lobectomy using a linear vascular stapler, PLL, or DS titanium clips. After lobectomy, each bronchial stump was submerged in water, and the peak inspiratory airway pressure was increased up to 40 cmH₂O. Bursting pressure was compared among the techniques.

Results:

No air leaks were observed in the PLL or DS titanium clip groups. One bronchial stump in the linear vascular stapler group leaked at the supraphysiologic pressure of 40 cmH₂O. There was no statistically significant difference in leakage incidence between the groups (P= .33).

Conclusions:

Linear vascular stapler, PLL, or DS-titanium clips were comparable and effective devices in sealing the hilar lung lobectomy site at physiologic and supraphysiologic airway pressure in feline cadavers. The PLL and the DS clips can be considered reliable and safe alternative techniques for hilar lung lobectomy in cats.