Page 2 - Clinical Connections- Autumn 2021

RVC RESEARCH STUDY VETERINARY SERVICES RVC.AC.UK
for their dogs due to their perceived risks
associated with surgery or due to the
advanced age of their dogs.
The procedure offers a cost-effective
and safe alternative treatment for non-
resectable hepatic tumours. It can improve
the quality of life for patients by shortening
duration of hospitalisation, lowering
pain levels and also stress levels peri-
operatively. It can also improve overall
survival of dogs with hepatic tumours.
Soft tissue surgeon Matteo Rossanese, CT lateral view of the plan for the initial vessel’s catheterisation
who joined the RVC last year, has
successfully performed the procedure
elsewhere. He has established TACE at
the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals
(QMHA), with the assistance of a grant
from the Animal Care Trust. The grant
allows the team to perform at least four
procedures at a reduced cost for the
clients.
The procedure involves access with a
catheter through an artery on the back leg
of the dog. With the use of tiny catheters
and wires the main vessel feeding the
tumour is selected using fluoroscopy and
a combination of chemotherapy and an
embolic agent is injected into the vessel to
completely occlude it.

Benefits for dogs
Outlining some of the benefits of the
development, Matteo Rossanese, Lecturer
in Small Animal Surgery, said: “This
treatment represents a new innovative
option and a great opportunity for our dogs
and our clients when surgery is CT dorsal view of the area to embolise (which was the tumour)

not possible. Dogs would benefit from a
minimally invasive procedure, including
a quicker recovery, with reduced risks
compared to open abdominal surgery."
He also said: "The establishment of
TACE at the RVC also offers opportunities
for ongoing future clinical research in
the area not just of hepatic tumours but
also of other tumours where TACE is an
established treatment option in human
medicine. Therefore, as well as those dogs
helped directly through treatment at the
RVC, the development can benefit dogs
more generally as well as our veterinary
colleagues in the wider community.”

For small animal referrals, please call:
01707 666399
Email:
CT dorsal view of the plan with the final vessel catheterisation qmhreception@rvc.ac.uk

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2 Autumn 2021