Veterinary Surgery October 2025 – Soft Tissue Part 1: Deep Node Risks & Cardioplegia for Mitral Valve Repair

In this Simini Small Animal Surgery Podcast episode, we explore two critical soft tissue studies from the October 2025 issue of Veterinary Surgery—each one helping you weigh surgical risk versus reward in deep anatomical spaces or delicate cardiac procedures.

We cover:

✅ Ciammaichella et al. — A multicenter retrospective study of over 130 lymphadenectomies across axillary, medial retropharyngeal, and iliosacral sites. The data showed overall complication rates were moderate (23%), but the iliosacral site carried a 41% risk—nearly double that of other locations. High-grade complications included wound dehiscence and infections requiring revision surgery, emphasizing the need for owner counseling, refined closure strategy, and potentially minimally invasive alternatives.

✅ Kurogochi et al. — A prospective randomized trial comparing modified Del Nido (MDN) cardioplegia with conventional St. Thomas solution in dogs undergoing mitral valve repair. Troponin levels (myocardial injury) were equivalent, but electrical recovery was six times faster in the MDN group (60 vs. 362 seconds). The trade-off? MDN required almost double the fluid volume, necessitating vigilant postop management to avoid overhydration.

🎓 Journal Articles Discussed:

• Ciammaichella et al. — Complications of medial retropharyngeal, axillary, and ilio-sacral lymphadenectomy in 127 dogs with malignant tumors
• Kurogochi et al. — Saline-based modified del Nido cardioplegia versus multidose St. Thomas cardioplegia in canine mitral valve repair: A randomized controlled trial
  📚 From the October 2025 issue of Veterinary Surgery

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Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction: Oncology Staging and Advanced Cardiac Protection
• 1:47 Ciammaichella et al. Study: Complications in Deep Lymphadenectomy
• 2:25 Overall Risk: Total Postoperative Complication Rate Around 23%
• 4:26 Closure Protocol: Managing Incisional Risk with Specialized Lavage
• 5:53 Kurogochi et al. Study: Modified DelNido Cardioplegia in Dogs
• 7:22 The Big Win: MDN Electrical Recovery in 60 Seconds vs. 362 Seconds
• 9:28 Final Takeaway: MDN is Viable with a Huge Speed Benefit, but Higher Fluid Load 23