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The objective of this experimental study was to compare the semitendinosus (ST) to the split-semitendinosus (SST) myocutaneous flap in covering distal limb skin defects in cats. Twenty-eight purpose-bred laboratory DSH cats were used and allocated into two groups (ST-group (A); n = 14, SST-group (B); n = 14). ST flaps, based on the distal muscle pedicle, and SST flaps, after longitudinal division of the muscle based on both muscle pedicles, were tested over skin defects created on the medial distal tibia. Clinical assessment, planimetry, CT-angiography (CTA) and histological examination were compared between groups. Days to complete flap healing between ST and SST-flaps (30.36 ± 9.1, 32.29 ± 5.44, respectively) and final total flap areas (68.36% ± 27.18, 51.83% ± 22.48, respectively) revealed no significant differences. On CTAs, the caliber of the distal caudal femoral vein on day 10 was statistically significant higher ( p < 0.001) for group A and a significantly higher caliber of the distal caudal femoral artery on day 30 for group B ( p = 0.021). Histology revealed statistically higher degeneration at 6 months ( p = 0.047) for group A, and statistically higher fibrosis at 12 months ( p = 0.019) for group B. Both ST and SST flaps had similar healing times and provided coverage of skin tibial defects in cats.

Background: The management of feline hindlimb full-thickness skin defects is challenging. On the other hand, the use of a semitendinosus (ST) myocutaneous flap for their coverage has not been reported., Objectives: To describe the ST flap and compare it with second intention healing for managing hindlimb full-thickness skin defects., Methods: In 12 purpose-bred laboratory domestic short-haired cats, two wounds were made on each tibia. The wounds in group A (n = 12) were covered with ST flaps, and those in group B (n = 12) were left to heal by second intention. In both groups, clinical assessment scoring and planimetry were performed between one-30 d postoperatively. Computed tomography-angiography (CTA) was performed on days zero, 10, and 30, and histological examinations were performed on days zero and 14 and at 6 and 12 mon postoperatively., Results: Statistically significant differences in the clinical assessment scores were observed between groups A and B on days 14 ( p = 0.046) and 21 ( p = 0.016). On the other hand, the time for complete healing was similar in the two groups. CTA revealed significant differences in the muscle width (day 0 compared to days 10 and 30 [ p = 0.001, p = 0.026, respectively], and days 10 to 30 [ p = 0.022]), ST muscle density, and the caliber of the distal caudal femoral artery and vein (day 0 compared to day 10 [ p < 0.001], and days 10 to 30 [ p < 0.001]). Histologically significant differences in inflammation, degeneration, edema, neovascularization, and fibrosis were observed on day 14 compared to zero and 6 mon, but no differences were found between the time interval of 6 and 12 mon., Conclusions: An ST flap can be used effectively to manage hindlimb full-thickness skin defects., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2023 The Korean Society of Veterinary Science.)

Transcaval ureter is a rarely reported human congenital malformation of the prerenal segment of the inferior vena cava (IVC) not yet reported in veterinary medicine. The objective of this multicenter retrospective case series study was to describe the computed tomography (CT) features of transcaval ureters in dogs and cats. Patients referring to pre- and post-contrast CT exams of the abdomen and presenting this abnormality were retrospectively included. Multiple qualitative features were described for each ureteral abnormality detected. Three cats and two dogs with transcaval ureter were identified consisting of a segmental duplication of the CVC at the prerenal level creating a vascular ring through which the ureter extended, identified as a double-barrel gun sign. The malformation was divided into two types according to the symmetry of the caval branches and location in relation to the aorta, namely, type I symmetrical branches and right-lateral to the aorta, and type II asymmetrically branches and right-dorsal to the aorta. In one case, the malformation was associated with hydroureter and mild pyelectasis. In three cases, the anomaly was incidental and, in the remaining two cases, the clinical significance was uncertain. This is the first study describing the presence of transcaval ureter in dogs and cats. CT was a suitable method for the diagnosis of transcaval and a focal double-barrel gun sign of the CVC is proposed as the hallmark feature of this anomaly. The clinical relevance of this congenital vascular malformation is unclear and needs to be further investigated., Competing Interests: Authors ML and IP were employed by company Alphavet Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging. Authors SS and PP were employed by Antech Imaging Services. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Spediacci, Longo, Specchi, Pey, Rabba, Mavraki, Di Giancamillo and Panopoulos.)

An 11-year old boy presented with a blunt trauma in the right inguinal area after a bicycle accident. Initial clinical picture was indicative of decreased arterial blood supply to the right lower extremity and the diagnostic confirmation was made with a colour flow Doppler ultrasonography. During operative investigation, a thrombosis of the common femoral artery, 3.5 cm in length, was found. The thrombotic part of the femoral artery was removed and replaced with a venous graft taken from the major saphenous vein, before the saphenofemoral junction. Postoperative course was uneventful. Traumatic thrombosis of the common femoral artery as a result of a blunt trauma is very rare, as only 4 relevant cases have been described previously.

Hydrocele is a collection of fluid within the tunica vaginalis. Based upon the etiology and the pathophysiology, it is divided into, the primary and secondary. The primary hydrocele includes the neonatal or the congenital, the communicating and the non-communicating or the closed or the adult type. The secondary hydrocele can develop in the substrate of a pre-existing disease. After systematic and thorough systematic and thorough research of the relevant literature, we aim at describing all the aspects of this entity, with specific emphasis on the issues that remain unanswered from the scientific community.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to provide a detailed anatomical study of the feline bronchial and vascular structures by using CT angiography (CTA)., Methods: Adult cats with no respiratory clinical signs were enrolled in a CTA protocol to provide an anatomical study of the thorax. The dimensions, number of branches and branching pattern (monopodial vs dichotomic) of both bronchial and pulmonary vascular structures were evaluated under positive inspiration apnoea. A linear generalised estimating equations analysis (Spearman's rho) was used to identify statistical correlation between tracheal diameter, age and body weight of the cats., Results: Fourteen cats met the inclusion criteria. The pulmonary arteries had larger diameters than the pulmonary veins, and the pulmonary veins had larger diameters than the bronchial structures. A higher number of segmental bronchial and pulmonary vascular branches was observed in the left caudal lung lobe than in the other lobes. The monopodial branching pattern of both bronchial and pulmonary vascular structures was predominant in all cats of our study (100%) in cranial, caudal and right middle lung lobes, while a dichotomic branching pattern of the bronchial and pulmonary vascular structures of the accessory lung lobe was seen in 13 cats (93%). Thirteen cats (93%) had three pulmonary vein ostia, and one cat (7%) also presented with an additional left intermediate pulmonary vein ostium. Variation in the number of segmental pulmonary vein branches was noted in the right caudal lung lobe. There was no statistical correlation between tracheal diameter, age and weight., Conclusions and Relevance: Architecture of the feline bronchovascularr structures belongs to a mixed type of monopodial and dichotomic branching pattern. In cats, the pulmonary venous drainage system predominately presents three pulmonary vein ostia. Variations in the type of formation and the number of branches of the pulmonary venous drainage system were noted.