Tissue sealing versus suture ligation in open canine ovariectomy: Surgical times, intraoperative nociceptive response and frequency of complications

Background: In this study, we compared two different techniques currently used for open canine ovariectomy: traditional method utilising absorbable suture and vessel sealing device (ENSEAL® Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Cincinnati, OH). Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the surgical times, intraoperative nociceptive response and the frequency of intraoperative complications in the canine ovariectomy procedure using these two techniques. Methods: Forty bitches were randomly divided into two groups. The Control Group (C) will use a classic open surgery approach using ligatures with absorbable suture and ovarian resection with a scalpel blade. In the Group E, resection of ovarian structures was performed with ENSEAL® tissue sealer device. For each dog the surgical times, the intraoperative nociceptive response (measuring heart rate, respiratory rate and non-invasive blood pressure) and the intraoperative complications were measured to compare the effectiveness of the two techniques. Results: The results of this study showed that the procedures performed using ENSEAL® were faster than the traditional techniques using surgical suture. Instead, the results regarding the nociception and the safety of the two procedures are similar. Conclusions: The present study shows that the use of ENSEAL® significantly shortened the surgical time. Meanwhile, its use was found to be similarly safe and efficient in terms of intra-operative nociception, as the classical techniques with absorbable suture. Canine ovariectomy using ENSEAL® device is more practical and faster than the traditional technique; the routine use of this device is considered a useful alternative for the canine neutering.