Surgical stress and postoperative complications related to regional and radical mastectomy in dogs

Abstract

Background: Surgery is the treatment of choice for regional control of mammary neoplasms in female dogs. Various surgical techniques may be used, as long as mammary gland anatomy, lymphatic drainage, and known prognostic factors are respected. The purpose of this study was to compare surgical stress-including duration of surgery, nociception and hematological changes-and postoperative complications in dogs undergoing regional and unilateral radical mastectomy. Eighteen dogs were selected for each technique. Postoperative pain (nociception), hematological changes, and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.

Results: The group treated with radical mastectomy had a longer surgical duration, showed more intense physiological changes, achieved higher scores on nociception scales, and experienced more postoperative complications.

Conclusion: Compared to regional mastectomy, radical mastectomy was associated with longer surgical duration, greater nociceptive stimulus, greater surgical stress, and higher incidence of postoperative complications in dogs. Although evaluation of long-term results was not a goal of this study, it is suggested that postoperative recovery and patient quality of life should be considered when choosing a surgical approach for treating mammary tumors in dogs.

Fig. 1

Postoperative nociceptive evaluation scale proposed by University of Colorado (adapted from Hellyer et al. [12])

Fig. 2

Graphic representation with mean values and standard deviation for serum cortisol (a), serum glucose (b), systolic arterial pressure (c), and diastolic arterial pressure (d) at T2 (immediately before premedication), T4 (5 min after general anesthesia and orotracheal intubation), T5 (immediately after orotracheal intubation), T6 (2 h after surgery), and T8 (24 h after surgery) in dogs undergoing regional (n = 18) and radical (n = 18) mastectomy. Significant differences for serum cortisol (Mann–Whitney, P < 0.004), on T6; serum glucose, on T6 (Fisher, P < 0.01) and T8 (Fisher, P < 0.04); and systolic arterial pressure, on T6 (Fisher, P < 0.03), are marked with stars