Perioperative outcomes of 65 dogs and 15 cats undergoing lung lobectomies with a hilar circumferential ligature

Objective To report perioperative morbidity and mortality in dogs and cats undergoing total lung lobectomy using a hilar circumferential ligature (HCL). Study design Retrospective clinical study. Sample population Client owned dogs ( n = 65) and cats ( n = 15). Methods Medical records were searched for dogs and cats undergoing surgery for total lung lobectomy using a HCL, consisting of either a commercial pre‐tied ligature loop (CPLL) or handtied circumferential ligature (HTCL). Cases were collected between 2017 and 2022 from six different hospitals and included signalment and perioperative data. Results A total of 94 lung lobes were removed, 59 with CPLL and 35 with HTCL, in 80 dogs and cats. The HTCL group comprised seven sliding, 25 modified Miller's and three Roeder knots. Intraoperative hemorrhage occurred in 4/94 (4.3%) lung lobectomies using 2/59 (3.4%) CPLL and 2/7 (28.6%) sliding knots. There was no association between hemorrhage and use of CPLL versus HTCL ( p > .99), knot type ( p = .09), or number of sutures per pedicle ( p = .30). One dog died intraoperatively from tumor extrusion into the bronchus. One dog required revision surgery for pneumothorax eight days postoperatively. Conclusion The overall incidence of intraoperative complications was low. Our findings support the use of CPPLs, handtied Roeder and modified Miller's knots for total lung lobectomy in dogs and cats with clinical disease. Sliding knots should be used with caution. Clinical significance The low complication rate, together with the ease of use and cost efficiency of HCL, makes this technique a promising option for total lung lobectomy.