Veterinary Surgery May 2025 – Soft Tissue Part 1: Thoracoscopy, MVR Learning Curves & Lymph Node Mapping

In this Simini Small Animal Surgery Podcast episode, we dive into three standout studies from the May 2025 issue of Veterinary Surgery—each spotlighting how simple innovation, institutional learning, and advanced mapping can reshape soft tissue outcomes in small animal patients.

We cover:

✅ Aertsens et al. — A chest wall lift technique for feline thoracoscopy. See how a bent Steinmann pin and improved oxygenation helped avoid open conversion in two complex cases.

✅ Brockman et al. — A 7-year journey tracking mitral valve repair outcomes in 132 dogs. From 22 to 30 survivors per quartile, this study shows the power of deliberate team-based refinement.

✅ Griffin et al. — A pilot study on dual-technique sentinel lymph node mapping for canine thyroid carcinoma. Hidden metastases were found in 33% of cases—and none were visible pre-op.

Three studies. One theme: practical refinement at every step of the surgical journey.

🎓 Journal Articles Discussed:

• Aertsens et al. — Chest wall lift for thoracoscopic lung lobectomy  Technique and results in two cats
• Brockman et al. — Improvement in short-term outcome over time, in a single center embarking on a canine mitral valve repair program using a structured multidisciplinary approach
• Griffin et al. —  A combination of pre‐ and intraoperative techniques identifies sentinel lymph nodes
  📚 From the May 2025 issue of Veterinary Surgery

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Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome & Overview
• 2:06 Aertsens et al Study: Chest Wall Lift Technique for Thoracoscopic Lung Lobectomy in Cats
• 4:45 Clinical Relevance: Simple and Effective Space Expansion
• 5:48 Simini Protect Lavage: Enhancing Patient Safety and Surgical Protocols
• 7:39 Brockman et al. Study: Portosystemic Shunt Attenuation in Dogs
• 9:00 Results: Improved Survival Over Time and Pragmatic Philosophy
• 10:10 Key Drivers of Improvement: Structured Team Approach and Deliberate Practice
• 13:35 Griffin at al Study: Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Dogs with Thyroid Carcinoma
• 17:28 Key Takeaways