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To compare the perioperative analgesic effect of lateral versus latero-ventral quadratus lumborum block (QLB) in dogs undergoing laparoscopic ovariectomy. Randomized, blinded clinical study. A total of 15 client-owned female dogs undergoing laparoscopic ovariectomy. Animals were randomly assigned to receive a bilateral QLB, performed with 0.3 mL kg–1 ropivacaine 0.5%, either with lateral (group L QLB , n = 7) or latero-ventral approach (group LV QLB , n = 7). Dogs were premedicated intramuscularly with methadone 0.2 mg kg–1 and dexmedetomidine 3 μg kg–1. General anaesthesia was induced intravenously (IV) with propofol and maintained with isoflurane. Cardiovascular and respiratory variables were continuously monitored and recorded every 5 minutes during surgery. Fentanyl 3 μg kg–1 was administered IV if there was a 20% increase in heart rate and/or mean arterial pressure from previous values recorded 5 minutes before. Meloxicam 0.2 mg kg–1 was administered IV to all dogs during recovery. The short-form of the Glasgow Composite Pain Scale was used hourly for 8 hours post-QLB. Methadone 0.2 mg kg–1 was administered IV when pain score was ≥ 6/24. A chi-square test compared the number of dogs requiring intraoperative rescue fentanyl. A Friedman test with a Dunn's post hoc was used to evaluate the trend in postoperative pain scores within each group, and a Mann–Whitney U test compared scores between the groups at each time point; p < 0.05. Significantly fewer dogs required intraoperative rescue fentanyl in group L QLB than in group LV QLB. No dog required postoperative rescue methadone, and there were no significant differences in pain scores. Bilateral QLB performed with lateral approach reduced the number of dogs requiring intraoperative rescue analgesia in comparison with the latero-ventral approach. No differences were detected postoperatively, possibly owing to the confounding effects of methadone, dexmedetomidine and meloxicam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In veterinary medicine, the use of sedative agents to perform clinical and diagnostic procedures is increasingly common. Several anesthetic drugs decrease tear flow production. In recent years, interest in the clinical efficacy of sedative and hypnotic agents for new and atraumatic routes of administration has increased. Tear film production has never been investigated in cats who received sedative agents by the intrarectal route (IR). The aim of this study is to compare the clinical effects of a mixture of dexmedetomidine, ketamine and midazolam on tear film flow administered by the IR versus the intramuscular route (IM). Cats are often easily stressed and uncooperative. The use of sedative agents in the feline species is widely used to perform even minor clinical and diagnostic procedures. The aim of this study is to assess the impact on tear film production of the intrarectal route (IR) administration of a mixture of dexmedetomidine, ketamine and midazolam in comparison with the intramuscular (IM) one. A group of twenty cats were involved in a randomized and blinded clinical trial. A clinical and ophthalmological examination was conducted on the cats. The IR group received dexmedetomidine 0.003 mg kg−1, ketamine 4 mg kg−1 and midazolam 0.4 mg kg−1; the IM group received dexmedetomidine 0.003 mg kg−1, ketamine 2 mg kg−1 and midazolam 0.2 mg kg−1. A Shirmer tear test I (STT- I) was conducted 1 h before sedation and 2′, 10′, 20′, 30′, 40′, and 80′ post drug administration. The reaction to STT-I administration was also evaluated. The IM group has a lower mean tear production than the IR group for all time points evaluated. Cats in the IM group showed less reaction to STT-I administration. This study may suggest that the effect of sedative agents administered by the IR route has a lower incidence on tear production than the IM one. The use of eye lubricant is recommended in any case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Andrea Paolini and Saleh Omairi contributed equally to this work Correction to: I Scientific Reports i https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-27429-7, published online 13 June 2018 The original version of this Article contained errors. Quantification of dystrophin levels at the sarcolemma (E) and with the fibre (F) with relation to muscle fibre type in three regions of interest at day six. [Extracted from the article]

Simple Summary: An adrenal mass represents the primary indication for adrenalectomy. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is a minimally invasive surgical technique that minimizes pain and improves patient recovery. The traditional technique involves the use of a single or multiple port (three or four). The objective of the study was to evaluate the feasibility and complication rate of two-port laparoscopic adrenalectomy to remove adrenal masses smaller than 4 cm in diameter. In total, 16 dogs with adrenal masses were enrolled in the study and clinicopathologic data were harvested from the medical records. The dogs were placed in sternal recumbency with cushions positioned under the sternum and pubis to simulate the quadrupedal station and displace the abdominal viscera. In all cases, the procedures were feasible with two ports. In five cases, capsule rupture occurred, and all were adrenal gland carcinomas. The gold-standard treatment for functional tumors is adrenalectomy, and the procedure can be either open or laparoscopic. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) is a minimally invasive technique designated for small–medium-sized adrenal tumors without vascular invasion. LA is routinely performed using three or four ports with the patient in sternal or lateral recumbency. The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of LA with two ports in order to reduce invasiveness and improve patient recovery. In total, 16 dogs with adrenal tumors were included in the study and the two-port technique was performed. Adrenalectomy was performed based on the presence of hypercortisolism in thirteen cases, whereas, in three cases, adrenalectomy was performed in the absence of evidence of cortisol production. Thirteen cases were carcinomas and three were adenomas of the adrenal gland; furthermore, twelve were on the left side and four were on the right side. Capsule rupture occurred in five cases. After performing the technique in all cases, no additional ports or laparotomy conversion occurred. Based on the authors' experience, laparoscopic adrenalectomy can be performed with two ports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The elongated soft palate is an abnormality that characterizes most brachycephalic dogs and contributes to the brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS). Palatoplasty is routinely performed in brachycephalic dogs; several surgical techniques exist. The use of surgical instruments such as monopolar electrocoagulation, CO 2 or diode laser, bipolar vessel sealing device and harmonic shears has become routine to reduce the operating time, the intraoperative risk of bleeding and the postoperative oedema. This prospective study aimed to compare the histomorphological effect of a CO 2 laser and LigaSure device in palates of dogs undergoing palatoplasty. Twenty owned brachycephalic dogs were included, 10 palatoplasties were performed using CO 2 laser and 10 using LigaSure™ device. The dogs were positioned in sternal recumbency. A transoral approach was performed: the elongated soft palate was grasped with Allis forceps and brought rostrally, the palatoplasty was performed using the tonsillar crypts as anatomical landmarks. Surgical specimens were routinely fixed in 10 % formalin. Two sections perpendicular to the surgical margins were trimmed from each sample, paraffin-embedded and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Tissue damage induced by the two types of surgical devices was graded (1–4, from minimal to severe) and the depth of thermal injury measured in μm on captured images (using an image analysis program - ImageJ). Mean values and standard deviations (SD) were calculated based on six measurements for each sample. The tissue damage was graded 3.7±0.48 in group LigaSure™ and 2.8±1 in group Laser. The mean depth of thermal injury was 874.94±184.92 μm in the LigaSure™ group and 451,76±137,86 μm in the Laser group. The comparison between the two groups showed significant lower grade and extension of thermal injury in the palate samples obtained with CO 2 laser (p<0.05). Additionally, there is a lack of literature that correlates the histological changes with the clinical outcomes of the different palatoplasty methods in brachycephalic dogs. By comparing histological changes and clinical outcomes, we aim to provide valuable insights for optimizing the surgical approach for palatoplasty in brachycephalic dogs, ultimately improving postoperative outcomes for these patients. • In all palate samples, indications of thermal injury were noted along the surgical incision margins induced by both devices. • Soft palate ablation by a CO 2 laser induced less thermal tissue damage than an excision using a LigaSure™ device. • Both devices had comparable clinical results and intra- and post-operative complication rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The patellar tendon is described as an intermediate to soft structure with strain elastography, with an increase in stiffness in cases of cranial cruciate ligament rupture. This work aimed to compare the stiffness of healthy ligaments and ones of dogs who underwent TPLO or TTA and to compare the feasibility of a strain ratio with two different reference tissues (cutis/subcutis and infrapatellar fat pad) to semi-quantitatively assess ligament elasticity. The results show that after TPLO or TTA, the ligaments are characterized by increased stiffness, and the distal portion is significantly softer. The cutis/subcutis experience fewer B-mode abnormalities after TPLO or TTA. These data suggest that after surgery, the tendon may become non-uniformly stiffer. The cutis/subcutis appears to be a more reliable reference tissue than the infrapatellar fat pad. Strain elastography (SE) evaluates tissue stiffness, providing qualitative and semiquantitative evaluation, with a strain ratio (SR) > 1 indicating that the target lesion is stiffer than the reference tissue. The patellar tendon has been described as soft in healthy dogs and hard in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture, but SR usefulness has not been assessed. Dogs were divided into healthy (G1) and at least 1 month after surgery (G2) groups. Thickness was recorded, and a B-mode score of 0–3 was determined based on the abnormality's severity. SE was qualitatively performed with a score of 1–4, and EI was recorded on the whole ligament and in proximal, intermediate and distal areas; SR was collected with the fat pad and cutis/subcutis. G1 was significantly thinner, with a lower score than G2 and a more elastic pattern. EI for G1 was significantly lower than G2 for the whole tendon and the single portions, and EI for the distal portion was significantly lower than the proximal and intermediate one in G2. SR was <1 in G1 and >1 in G2 for both the fat pad and cutis/subcutis. These data suggest that after surgery, the tendon may become non-uniformly stiffer. The cutis/subcutis appears to be a more reliable reference tissue than the infrapatellar fat pad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using a multivariate diagnostic approach by combining B-mode ultrasound, color Doppler ultrasonography, and strain elastography (SE) to distinguish benign from malignant mesenteric lymph nodes in cats. Feline enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes (LNs) were evaluated using B-mode ultrasound, color Doppler ultrasonography, and SE. Short-to-long axis ratio, borders, echogenicity, hilum, vascular flow distribution, elastographic pattern, and strain ratio were recorded. Histological and/or cytological diagnosis was available for each LN. A multivariate statistical analysis was performed including the data from B-mode ultrasound, color Doppler ultrasonography, and SE. A total of 88 LNs were included, 46 (52.3%) benign and 42 (47.7%) malignant; in the benign group, 40 LNs had a diagnosis of reactive hyperplasia (group A) and 6 eosinophilic sclerosing lymphadenitis (group B), while in the malignant group 42 had a diagnosis of lymphoma (group C). The principal component analysis approach provided evidence that by combining B-mode-based scores, the three groups of LNs can be accurately distinguished. Combining B-mode- and color Doppler-based scores with SE scores allows reactive lymph nodes to be distinguished from other lymph node abnormalities. Further studies are needed for neoplastic and inflammatory conditions in feline species. (1) Background: Strain elastography (SE) is an ultrasound-based technique able to non-invasively assess tissue elasticity, with malignant tissues being stiffer than normal tissues. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of SE to differentiate feline mesenteric benign and malignant lymph nodes (LNs) using a multivariate approach including both SE results and B-mode ultrasound and color Doppler findings. (2) Methods: Feline enlarged mesenteric LNs were evaluated using B-mode ultrasound, color Doppler ultrasonography, and SE. Short-to-long axis ratios, borders, echogenicity, hilum, vascular flow distribution, elastographic patterns, and strain ratios were recorded. Histological and/or cytological diagnosis was available for each LN. (3) Results: A total of 88 LNs were included, 46 (52.3%) benign and 42 (47.7%) malignant; in the benign group, 40 LNs had a diagnosis of reactive hyperplasia (group A) and 6 eosinophilic sclerosing lymphadenitis (group B), while in the malignant group 42 had a diagnosis of lymphoma (group C). The principal component analysis approach showed evidence that by combining B-mode- and color Doppler-based scores with SE scores, the three groups of LNs can be accurately distinguished. (4) Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that a multivariate sonographic approach combining B-mode ultrasound, color Doppler ultrasonography, and SE can accurately distinguish benign from malignant LNs, thus helping in the clinical advice of feline patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Many orthopedic and neurological pathologic conditions can potentially lead to or be affected by joint instability. Standard magnetic resonance imaging, as a static technique that examine joints and body parts in functional rest, can underestimate or overlook key diagnostic findings. As a result, kinematic magnetic resonance imaging techniques were developed to evaluate joints and body parts under stress and load conditions or during movement. In human medicine, the real-time acquisition technique is one of the modalities for acquiring kinematic magnetic resonance imaging, and has gained popularity in recent years. This proof-of-concept study was designed to test the feasibility of real-time acquisition techniques in veterinary medicine for the first time. Based on the results of this preliminary cadaveric study, real-time kinematic magnetic resonance imaging may be a feasible and valuable procedure to be applied to the canine cervical spine and stifle joints. Moreover, given the ease of execution and the concise duration of acquisitions, it could be applied in a regular standard protocol MRI with little additional effort, risk, and cost. In this proof-of-concept study, a good visualization of the canine cervical spine and stifle joint was achieved, showing the potential of real-time acquisition techniques for clinical and research applications. Kinematic MRI (kMRI) is a novel human imaging technique that couples the excellent soft tissue contrast and multiplanar capabilities of traditional MRI with kinematic potential. The study's goals are: (1) testing the feasibility of spinal cord and joints real-time kMRI; and (2) evaluating the quality of these kinematic studies as a new diagnostic option in veterinary medicine. Standard and real-time kinematic MRI were performed on cervical spine, elbow, and stifle joints of seven cadavers. Studies were repeated after a surgical insult aimed to create a certain degree of joint instability. A total of 56 MRI were performed—7 cervical spinal tracts, 3 elbow joints, and 4 stifle joints were examined. The technique was feasible in all the three regions examined. The images were considered of excellent quality for the stifle joint, good to fair for the cervical spine, whereas two of three elbow studies were considered to have unacceptable image quality. Additionally, real-time kMRI provided good to excellent information about stifle instability. Therefore we consider kMRI a promising technique in veterinary medicine. Further studies and an in vivo setting are needed to increase the quality of the kMRI images, and to fully evaluate clinical usefulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcomes of 21 cats that underwent coxofemoral toggle stabilization using the Mini TightRope® Fixation System (mTR®). Data were compiled from client-owned cats with traumatic hip luxation. Each cat underwent the same protocol including orthopedic assessment, preoperative radiographic evaluation, surgical procedure, postoperative management and clinical re-examination at 14 days, 8 weeks and 12 months following surgery. Age, body weight, implants and osteoarthritis progression were recorded. A lameness score 0-4 was assigned to each cat. Pain upon hip extension was not quantified but as pain reaction or no pain reaction. Major complications and osteoarthritic (OA) changes were recorded. Osteoarthritic changes were classified on a 0-4 scale. Twenty-one cats were included in the study. Coxofemoral luxations were stabilized using a mTR®. At 8 weeks, weight bearing was considered normal (grade 0) in all cats and no pain reaction was elicited during hip extension. One year after surgery, orthopedic examination was within the normal limits and according to the owners, all animals exhibited a normal physical activity. No complications were recorded. Evidence of slight OA changes were observed in 5 out of 21 cats. The final outcome was considered excellent in 16/21 patients and good in 5/21 cats. The application of the mTR® system can be considered a suitable surgical treatment in cats affected by traumatic hip luxation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: A definitive diagnosis for most pulmonary diseases is possible only through histopathological examination. The literature describes different methods of lung biopsy sampling depending on the case. However, for the diagnosis of diffuse interstitial pulmonary diseases and some peripheral neoplasms, the gold standard is represented by surgical lung biopsies. Given their invasiveness and the high percentage of risk for the patient, in most cases they are not carried out, resulting in a serious diagnostic gap. In human medicine, transbronchial lung cryobiopsies have been introduced as an alternative, which have shown high efficacy and reduced invasiveness. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of the new technique in dogs by subjecting dog cadavers to pulmonary cryobiopsy and surgical lung biopsies, and to compare the samples obtained for histopathological quality. In total, 42 tissue samples were compared. Pulmonary cryobiopsies were smaller than surgical biopsies but with high levels of agreement upon histological evaluation. This study demonstrates the feasibility of the technique in dogs and the collection of specimens with size and histological features comparable to those from surgical biopsies. To date, the only method of sampling lung tissue with a high diagnostic yield is represented by surgical lung biopsies (SLB), which are highly invasive and have a high risk/benefit ratio. In humans, transbronchial lung cryobiopsies (TBLC) have recently been introduced, which are described to be less invasive and able to significantly increase diagnostic confidence in most patients with interstitial lung diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and diagnostic yield of TBLC compared to SLB in small animals. A total of 21 pulmonary cryobiopsies under fluoroscopic and real-time CT fluoroscopic guidance and 21 video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lung biopsies were collected from three dog cadavers. Upon histological examination, cryobiopsy samples were smaller than VATS biopsies, but were still large enough to reach a specific diagnosis or to allow pattern recognition. Morphological features on TBLC and SLB were concordant in all cases. Cryobiopsy samples showed fewer artifacts and a higher percentage of alveolar tissue than VATS samples. TBLC is a feasible and useful alternative to SLB for lung histopathological examination in dogs. The effectiveness and reduced invasiveness of TBLC compared to SLB could represent many advantages in the diagnosis of diffuse lung diseases in small animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Laryngeal collapse is a condition characterized by the medial deviation of the cuneiform cartilage caused by upper airway obstruction. The condition is graded in three stages: stage III is defined as the collapse of the corniculate processes of the arytenoids and the destructuration of the dorsal portion of the rima glottidis. The surgical treatments for this condition include unilateral arytenoid laryngoplasty with cricoarytenoid lateralization combined with thyroarytenoid caudo-lateralization or permanent tracheostomy. Subtotal epiglottectomy was initially described for dogs with epiglottic retroversion. In the present study, subtotal epiglottectomy in association with the ablation of unilateral arytenoid cartilage is proposed as an alternative treatment for 16 dogs with stage III laryngeal collapse. The procedure aims to increase the air passage through the larynx, decrease negative intraglottic pressure, and reduce airway resistance. Stage III laryngeal collapse is defined as the collapse of the corniculate processes of the arytenoid cartilages and the destructuration of the dorsal portion of the rima glottidis. The primary cause is chronic upper airway obstruction, and the condition is often present in brachycephalic dogs. The treatment is still controversial; the patients are generally treated with a permanent tracheostomy. This article reports the authors' experience with 16 dogs affected by stage III laryngeal collapse treated with subtotal epiglottectomy and the ablation of unilateral arytenoid cartilage. Before the surgery, all of the dogs underwent an effort test to classify the clinical severity of the disease and an endoscopic examination of the airways to determine the stage of severity of the laryngeal collapse. One month after surgery, the effort test was repeated in order to evaluate the clinical outcome. One year after surgery, the owners of 12 patients rated their dogs as follows: excellent in five cases, good in five cases, and fair in two cases. According to this pilot study, epiglottectomy associated with the photoablation of unilateral arytenoid cartilage increases airway flow, and thus may be considered a valid surgical procedure to treat dogs affected by grade III laryngeal collapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pedicled jejunal graft was successfully used to treat a colorectal anastomotic dehiscence, which eliminated the tension on the anastomotic site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skeletal muscle wasting is commonly associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD), resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. However, the link between kidney and muscle function remains poorly understood. Here, we took a complementary interorgan approach to investigate skeletal muscle wasting in CKD. We identified increased production and elevated blood levels of soluble pro-cachectic factors, including activin A, directly linking experimental and human CKD to skeletal muscle wasting programs. Single-cell sequencing data identified the expression of activin A in specific kidney cell populations of fibroblasts and cells of the juxtaglomerular apparatus. We propose that persistent and increased kidney production of pro-cachectic factors, combined with a lack of kidney clearance, facilitates a vicious kidney/muscle signaling cycle, leading to exacerbated blood accumulation and, thereby, skeletal muscle wasting. Systemic pharmacological blockade of activin A using soluble activin receptor type IIB ligand trap as well as muscle-specific adeno-associated virus-mediated downregulation of its receptor ACVR2A/B prevented muscle wasting in different mouse models of experimental CKD, suggesting that activin A is a key factor in CKD-induced cachexia. In summary, we uncovered a crosstalk between kidney and muscle and propose modulation of activin signaling as a potential therapeutic strategy for skeletal muscle wasting in CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Castration is used to improve the management of buffalo calves and their meat quality. Despite the growing interest in livestock welfare, water buffaloes have not been studied as frequently as other species. General anaesthesia produces complete unconsciousness, insensitivity to pain and muscle relaxation. The quality and safety of general anaesthesia may be improved using sedatives prior to the induction of general anaesthesia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two different intramuscular doses of xylazine for premedication, followed by ketamine induction, in water buffalo calves undergoing isoflurane maintenance anaesthesia for routine castration surgery. Based on the results obtained, we can conclude that both protocols are safe for buffalo castration, but the higher dose protocol is recommended for buffalo orchiectomy. Castration is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in livestock. All methods of castration are associated with a significant degree of pain, affecting the patients' welfare. Limited information on species-specific protocols in buffaloes is available. Considering the importance of this species and the scarcity of reports available, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two different intramuscular doses of xylazine for premedication in water buffalo calves undergoing isoflurane maintenance anaesthesia for routine castration surgery. Twenty clinically healthy male water buffaloes undergoing bilateral orchiectomy were randomly assigned to two groups of 10 animals each: Group 1 was premedicated with xylazine 0.1 mg/kg bw i.m. and Group 2 was premedicated with xylazine 0.15 mg/kg bw i.m. Anaesthesia was induced by ketamine (2 mg/kg bw i.v.) and maintained with isoflurane-oxygen-air in both groups. The HR, RR, presence/absence of ataxia, sedation, depth of anaesthesia, muscle relaxation status, response to acoustic and tactile stimuli, eyelid reflex, extent of salivation and stimulus were evaluated every 5 min. Both protocols provided consistent sedation and were safe. Faster and more satisfactory sedation was recorded when xylazine was administered at 0.15 mg/kg bw i.m., leading us to recommend this dose for buffalo orchiectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Laparoscopy is routinely used in veterinary medicine for both diagnostic and operative procedures. Laparoscopy requires the creation of a pneumoperitoneum to increase the working space, and the placement of portals to allow the insertion of instruments into the abdominal cavity. Instrument insertion is associated with most of the intraoperative complications described in the literature and can also prolong the operation time. Different techniques for reducing the complication rate and time taken for the first portal placement have been described, but there are no clear guidelines in either medical (human) or veterinary literature. In the present study, a total of 30 female dogs underwent laparoscopic ovariectomy. The times required for the first portal placement and the complication rates when using the Veress needle (10 patients) or the modified Hasson technique (20 patients) were recorded and compared. The results of this study suggest that the modified Hasson technique is faster and safer. Minimally invasive surgery is increasingly being used in veterinary medicine. Laparoscopic procedures have several advantages compared with open surgery. These include the magnification of the field of surgery, reduced post-surgical pain and associated stress, reduced post-operative infection rates, and decreased hospitalization time. The establishment of a pneumoperitoneum is a critical step; however, this procedure can prolong the operation time, and most of the complications associated with laparoscopic surgery have been attributed to the insertion of devices into the abdominal cavity. Two main techniques have been employed to create pneumoperitoneum: the closed-entry method using the Veress needle and the open Hasson technique. The first portal is necessary to start insufflation and, subsequently, to realize the operative channel to insert the laparoscopic instruments into the abdomen. Many authors have compared the time necessary to create the first portal using different techniques in human medicine, but studies on this topic in veterinary medicine are lacking. In the veterinary medicine literature, complications associated with the creation of a pneumoperitoneum and the placement of ports include spleen, bowel, or bladder injuries; pneumothorax; and subcutaneous emphysema. The aim of the present study was to compare the times required for the placement of the first portal and the creation of pneumoperitoneum, and the rates of intraoperative complications using the Veress needle technique (VNT) and the open modified Hasson technique (MHT). The sample population comprised 30 female dogs who underwent laparoscopic ovariectomies. The dogs were randomly organized into two groups and two different entry techniques were used: Veress needle (VNT = group A) and the modified Hasson technique (MHT = group B). Complications related to abdominal entry were classified as major, in cases of organ perforation, and minor, in cases of subcutaneous emphysema and gas leakage. The VNT and MHT required 374.0 s and 242.9 s, respectively, for the placement of the first portal and for establishing pneumoperitoneum (p < 0.05). Their major complications rates were 20% and 0%, respectively (p < 0.05). Their minor complications rates were 20% and 35%, respectively (p < 0.05). No surgical procedures required laparotomy. The MHT was associated with a lower major complication rate and required less time to create the first portal, compared with the Veress needle technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]