Errors and Complications In Surgery. Surgery Atlas, a Step-By-Step Guide (Small Animal Surgery)

1. General information
Definition of error
Preoperative errors
Intraoperative errors
Postoperative errors

2. Errors in clinical and perioperative management
Case 1 / Biopsy of a lung mass
Case 2 / Bandage on the wrong limb
Case 3 / Incorrectly secured limbs
Case 4 / Inadequate splinting
Case 5 / Removal of an ectopic cilium
Case 6 / Testicular tumour
Case 7 / Diaphragmatic rupture

3. Errors in surgery of the head, neck, thorax, and abdomen
Case 8 / Chronic oronasal fistula repair
Case 9 / Reconstructive neck surgery
Case 10 / Postoperative evisceration
Case 11 / Gastrectomy
Case 12 / Incorrect gastropexy
Caso 13 / Septic enteritis due to intestinal dehiscence
Case 14 / Ruptured vessel. Partial hepatic lobectomy
Case 15 / Herniorrhaphy with transposition of the gluteus superficialis muscle
Case 16 / Retained foreign body in the thoracic cavity
Case 17 / Resection of an abdominal mass

4. Errors in urinary tract surgery
Case 18 / Perineal urethrostomy
Case 19 / Antepubic entero-neo-urethrostomy
Case 20 / Perineal urethrostomy
Case 21 / Prolapse of the urethral mucosa

5. Errors in surgery of the reproductive system
Case 22 / Ureter ligation
Case 23 / Adhesions following an ovariohysterectomy
Case 24 / Intestinal obstruction due to adhesions following an ovariohysterectomy
Case 25 / Ovarian remnant and pyometra
Case 26 / Evisceration due to incorrect use of plastic cable ties
Case 27 / Haematoma following an orchiectomy and scrotectomy
Case 28 / Cystotomy and removal of an ectopic testis

6. Errors in trauma surgery
Case 29 / Fixation of a comminuted fracture of the radius and ulna
Case 30 / Fixation of a fractured tibia and fibula
Case 31 / Fixation of an open femoral fracture
Case 32 / Femoral head and neck excision
Case 33 / Osteosynthesis with bone grafting in a fracture of the tibia and fibula

7. Errors in ocular surgery
Case 34 / Resection of a fibroma
Case 35 / Caudal auricular axial pattern flap

8. Errors in oncological surgery
Case 36 / Resection of a palpebral neoplasm
Case 37 / Z–Plasty

9. References

This new book in the Small Animal Surgery series has been designed as a review of the surgical errors and complications that may occur in daily practice, so that veterinary surgeons can learn to prevent them or resolve their consequences. The book includes QR codes to view videos of some of the techniques described as an aid to understanding them. It is intended for surgeons starting their professional careers and residents, as well as more experienced veterinary surgeons, since it must not be forgotten that error can occur at any time, no matter how much experience a clinician may have.

Rodolfo Brühl Day, DVM (coord.)
Rodolfo Brühl Day graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires (Argentina) in 1977. He graduated with honours (Magna cum Laude) and received an award for the best academic record. He completed a residency in small animal surgery at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of the University of California (Davis, USA) in 1984. In 1998 he became a Charter Diplomate in Small Animal Surgery of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Buenos Aires. In addition, he is a specialist in University Teaching with an orientation towards Veterinary and Biological Sciences (2000) and a Diplomate of the Latin-American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (2002). He was recently appointed as a Small Animal Surgery Specialist by the Veterinary Professional Council of Argentina (2017).

Throughout his extensive career, he has taught at various universities (Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Buenos Aires; School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California; and Ross University, School of Veterinary Medicine, Saint Kitts, West Indies). Since 2008, he has been a professor of small animal surgery and the director of the Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Department at the School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University (Grenada, West Indies). He is also a staff surgeon at the Small Animal Clinic of the same university.

Dr Brühl Day has received numerous grants, awards and distinctions, and has contributed to a large number of publications such as books, journals and educational materials. He has also been a speaker at seminars and courses, and has continued his training with continuing professional development throughout his career.

María Elena Martínez, DVM
María Elena Martínez graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences of the University of Buenos Aires (FCV-UBA), in 1991. She was a professor in the Small Animal Surgery and Anaesthesiology Department at the FCV-UBA from 1998 to 2006. In 2002 she obtained a Diploma in Small Animal Surgery from the University of Buenos Aires. She is a founding member of the Argentinian Association of Neurology (Neurovet Argentina), in charge of its surgery section, and head of the Neurosurgery Area as part of the Diploma programme in Neurology at the National University of La Pampa (Argentina). She is a member of Neurolatinvet (Latin American Association of Veterinary Neurology). She has gained wide experience in her specialty in foreign centres such as Gramercy Park Hospital (NY, USA) and Missouri University (USA), and has participated as a speaker in numerous congresses and specialisation programmes in Colombia, Chile, Peru and Bolivia.

Pablo Meyer, DVM
Pablo Meyer graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) in 1986. In 2003 he earned a Specialist Diploma in Small Animal Surgery from the UBA. From 2007 to 2009 he taught Skin Surgery and Reconstruction as part of the Specialist Programme in Small Animal Surgery at the UBA. Since 2010 he has taught Thoracic Surgery as part of the same programme. He is also a surgeon in the Surgery Service at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires. He is also a professor of oncology and an academic speaker in Chile and Peru. Dr Meyer is the author of several papers and publications in specialised journals and has participated in conferences on oncology and surgery.