Pedicle ties provide a rapid and safe method for feline ovariohysterectomy

The specific objectives of the present study were to evaluate the rate of hemorrhage-related complications across a large number of feline pedicle tie (PT) procedures, and evaluate for a difference in surgical time between traditional pedicle double ligation (PDL) and PT procedures.

In the initial phase of the study, 2136 intact female cats underwent an ovariohysterectomy using the PT technique. Hemorrhagic complications not detected intraoperatively were to be confirmed via exploratory surgery or necropsy. The second phase of the study recorded the duration of surgery for four groups: kittens undergoing PTs (n = 50), kittens undergoing PDL (n = 49), adult cats undergoing PTs (n = 50) and adult cats undergoing PDL (n = 54). Kittens were defined as a cat 4 months old or younger. Statistical comparisons of age, body weight and surgical times between the PT and PDL groups were performed within, but not between, kitten and adult cat categories.

Six of 2136 (0.281%) cats experienced a hemorrhage-related complication associated with the ovarian pedicle. Five of the six ovarian pedicle hemorrhage-related complications were recognized and corrected intraoperatively, with the remaining hemorrhagic event being detected postoperatively. Surgical times were significantly shorter in PT kittens compared with PDL kittens (4.7 ± 0.1 mins vs 6.7 ± 0.1 mins) and PT adult cats compared with PDL adult cats (5.0 ± 0.2 mins vs 7.0 ± 0.2 mins).

This study demonstrates that the PT technique is associated with a very low risk of hemorrhage-related complications and is significantly faster than double ligating the ovarian pedicle in kittens and adult cats. Use of the PT technique has the potential to be of significant economic benefit in institutions performing large numbers of feline ovariohysterectomies.