Evaluation of the effect of postoperative laser therapy on wound healing following Ligasure™-assisted ovariohysterectomy in cats using thermal camera and doppler ultrasonography

In this master's thesis, the effects of postoperative laser therapy on wound healing were comparatively evaluated using thermal imaging and color Doppler ultrasonography following different ovariohysterectomy (OHE) techniques in female cats. A total of 40 clinically healthy, anestrous female cats were randomly assigned to four groups: Group 1 (LigaSure™-assisted OHE + laser therapy), Group 2 (LigaSure™-assisted OHE + placebo), Group 3 (conventional ligature OHE + laser therapy), and Group 4 (conventional ligature OHE + placebo). All surgical procedures were performed by the same surgical team under standardized aseptic conditions. Wound surface temperature was assessed via thermal imaging, while microvascular perfusion parameters—namely peak vascular density and color Doppler ratio (%)—were evaluated through high-frequency linear probe Doppler ultrasonography based on a defined region of interest (ROI). Additionally, systemic inflammatory response was monitored by measuring serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations at preoperative baseline and at 24, 48, 72 hours, and day 7 postoperatively. The results indicated that surgical duration was significantly shorter in the LigaSure™ groups compared to conventional technique groups (p < 0.05). In thermal imaging, groups receiving laser therapy demonstrated more rapid recovery in minimum surface temperature values, suggesting a faster local thermal recovery. Doppler ultrasonography revealed a significant decline in vascular perfusion parameters within the first 24 hours post-surgery in all groups, but laser-treated groups exhibited a notable recovery in these parameters by day 7 (p < 0.001). Regarding SAA levels, laser-treated groups showed a more limited systemic inflammatory response; a statistically significant difference was observed particularly between Group 1 and Group 4 at 48 hours postoperatively (p<0.05).In conclusion, the use of the LigaSure™ vessel-sealing device in OHE operations provided significant advantages in terms of reducing operative time and tissue trauma. Moreover, postoperative laser therapy contributed positively to wound healing by enhancing microvascular perfusion and modulating the inflammatory response during the early recovery period.