Outcome, Complications and Risk Factors for Perioperative Mortality in Dogs Undergoing Caudal Fossa Surgery

Abstract:

Background: Surgery of the caudal fossa presents distinctive perioperative risks, making the identification of mortality risk factors critical to improving outcomes.

Objectives: To characterize the survival outcomes and perioperative complications in dogs undergoing caudal fossa surgery, and to identify risk factors of early post-operative mortality. Animals: Fifty-five dogs.

Methods: Retrospective study (1995-2024). Data collected included age, weight, histopathologic diagnosis, duration of clinical signs and corticosteroid treatment before surgery, length of anesthesia, and perioperative adverse events.

Results: Of 55 dogs, 4 (7.2%) were euthanized intraoperatively, 4 (7.2%) were euthanized before recovery, and 8 (14.5%) died before discharge. On univariate analysis, dogs that survived to discharge (n=39, 70.9%) were significantly younger [median (range): 6 years (1-13)] and had significantly shorter duration of corticosteroid treatment prior to surgery [5 days (0-96)] compared to dogs that died before discharge [9 years (1-16), p=0.014; 22 days (0-74), p=0.007]. Weight (p=0.55), duration of clinical signs (p=0.93) and length of anesthesia (p=0.23) were not associated with survival. On multivariate analysis, odds of survival to discharge decreased with each additional week of corticosteroid treatment pre-surgery [OR (95%CI): 0.77 (0.57–0.97)] and with each year of age [0.76 (0.60–0.93)]. Pneumonia developed in 7/8 (87.5%) dogs that died before discharge, and 5/39 (12.8%) dogs that survived. All dogs that did not survive to discharge had a neoplastic mass. All dogs undergoing subsequent surgery (6/55, 10.9%) survived.

Conclusion: Survival to discharge after caudal fossa surgery was significantly associated with younger age and shorter corticosteroid treatment duration before surgery.