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34th Annual Scientific Meeting proceedings


Stream:   |   Session:
Date/Time: 30-11--0001 (00:00 - 00:00)   |   Location:
Incidence and risk factors for surgical site infection in dogs undergoing laparoscopic ovariectomy. A multicentre prospective cohort study
Fuertes-Recuero M1, Espinel-Rupérez J*2, Suárez-Redondo M3, De-Pablo-Moreno JA4, Carro-Rodríguez J3, Ortiz-Diez G3
1Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain, 2Department of Small Animal Surgery, Section of Small Animal Clinical Studies, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, 3Complutense Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Complutense University of Madrid, Avda. Puerta de Hierro s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain, 4Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences UCM, Madrid, Spain.

Objectives:

Despite that canine laparoscopic ovariectomy is widely performed in small animal surgery, the associated rate of surgical site infection has only been described in few case reports and case series. Therefore, the study objectives are (1) to describe the incidence of SSI following laparoscopic ovariectomy and (2) identify associated risk factors.

Methods:

A multicentre, prospective cohort study was conducted in seven veterinary hospitals between January 2022 and September 2023. Data on patient-related variables, surgical variables, and postoperative variables were systematically collected. SSI was diagnosed according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria, and statistical analysis included univariate and multivariate logistic regression to assess associations between independent variables and SSI risk. An active surveillance system was used and patients were followed-up at the centre twice and owner were contacted by telephone 30 days after surgery.

Results:

A total of 208 female dogs undergoing laparoscopic ovariectomy were included. Overall SSI was identified in 15 (7.2%) procedures (95%CI:4.1%-11.6%), including 12 superficial (80%) and 3 (20%) deep, after a mean follow-up of 5 days. No organ/space infections were reported. The median surgical duration was 46 minutes. Surgical time more than 46 min (P<0.001) and inappropriate postoperative use of Elizabethan collar (P=0.003) were identified as risk factors for SSI. Other variables that have been previously identified as risk factors in other studies, were not reported.

Conclusions:

In this study, SSI following laparoscopic ovariectomy was higher than previously described in laparoscopic procedures and open surgery. Dogs that underwent longer surgical procedures and incorrect use of the Elizabethan collar postoperatively were associated with SSI.

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