Characteristics and outcomes of dogs undergoing cholecystectomy for diseases other than a mature gallbladder mucocele: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND

Cholecystectomy is well described for gallbladder mucocele management, but its role in other gallbladder diseases is less well understood.

HYPOTHESIS/

OBJECTIVES

Characterize and compare dogs undergoing cholecystectomy for mature gallbladder mucocele (M-GBM) versus "other gallbladder disease" (non-M-GBM). A secondary exploratory aim was to compare surgical complication and 10 to 14-day mortality rates between cohorts.

ANIMALS: A total of 256 dogs undergoing cholecystectomy.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study (2018-2025). Dogs were assigned to M-GBM or non-M-GBM groups based on radiologist review of stored ultrasonographic images. Clinical, biochemical, histopathologic, and outcome variables were compared. Survival was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier curves and restricted mean survival time estimates.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine dogs were classified as M-GBM and 187 as non-M-GBM. The M-GBM dogs were significantly older (11.0 ± 2.8 vs 8.7 ± 3.1 years; P < .001) and had higher white blood cell (13.8 ± 7.3 vs 10.0 ± 4.5 k/μL; P < .001), and neutrophil counts (10.5 ± 6.2 vs 7.3 ± 3.9 k/μL; P < .001), and ALT (148; interquartile range [IQR]: 55.2-402 vs 78; IQR: 42.5-278.5 U/L; P < .001) and ALP activities (446; IQR: 148-1860 vs 178; IQR: 59.5-786.8 U/L; P < .001). Fourteen-day mortality was significantly lower in the non-M-GBM cohort (3.2 vs 8.7%; P = .04). Post-surgical clinical improvement occurred in 83.7% of non-M-GBM dogs. Concurrent pancreatic and intestinal abnormalities were common.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL

IMPORTANCE

Cholecystectomy was safe, associated with owner-perceived clinical improvement, and carried a lower short-term mortality rate in non-M-GBM dogs compared with M-GBM dogs.