Laparoscopic Cholecystoduodenostomy in Dogs: Canine Cadaver Feasibility Study

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopic cholecystoduodenostomy in canine cadavers using barbed self‐locking sutures. Study Design In vivo experimental study. Animals Fresh male Beagle cadavers (n=5). Methods Surgery was performed by a single veterinary surgeon. Dogs were placed in dorsal recumbency and 15° reverse Trendelenburg position. The surgical procedure was performed with four 5 mm entry ports and a 5 mm 30° telescope. The cholecystoduodenostomy technique included dissection, incision of the gallbladder, and lavage, followed by gallbladder transposition over the duodenum, incision of the duodenum, and anastomosis. The latter was performed with a 4‐0 barbed self‐locking suture (V‐Loc ® 180). Subsequently, a leak test was performed by submerging the anastomosis in saline and insufflating air into the duodenum through a catheter. Total operative time and completion times for each procedural step were recorded. Results The median total operative time was 151 minutes (range, 129–159). One conversion to open surgery occurred because of vascular hemorrhage. The 3 longest intraoperative steps were posterior wall anastomosis, gallbladder dissection, and anterior wall anastomosis. Intraoperative anastomotic leakage sites were identified in 3 of 5 dogs. Leaks were managed by placement of a single reinforcing conventional intracorporeal suture, which was adequate to obtain a watertight anastomosis. Conclusion This technique cannot be recommended in clinical practice until further studies are performed and the technique is further refined.