Soft Tissue Surgery
Soft Tissue Surgery: Extraordinary Vets for Extraordinary Pets
Home to one of the UK’s largest team of Soft Tissue Surgery Specialists – complex is our every day when providing treatment for over 800 new patients a year.
Harnessing our multidisciplinary Specialist team with exceptional capability and experience, Willows is uniquely positioned to diagnose and treat patients with complex soft tissue problems, achieving the best possible clinical outcomes for patients with a wide range of surgical conditions including; liver shunts, Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), laryngeal paralysis, and both thoracic and abdominal pathology.
As experts in minimally invasive surgical techniques, our Specialist team perform procedures such as coil embolization of liver shunts and keyhole surgery offering patients improved recovery times and shorter stays in hospital.
With direct access to our Specialist, Emergency and Critical Care service patients are supported by our dedicated team of Nurses and clinical support staff 24 hours a day, every day of the year providing the best possible care for your pet.
What can I Expect if my Pet is Referred to a Soft Tissue Specialist?
Each visit will start with a detailed consultation, careful examination of the patient and an in-depth discussion about the findings and the plans for further investigation and treatment. Willows has access to state-of-the art diagnostic imaging facilities including digital radiography, CT scanning and MRI scanning.
What can I Expect if my Pet is Referred to a Soft Tissue Specialist?
Each visit will start with a detailed consultation, careful examination of the patient and an in-depth discussion about the findings and the plans for further investigation and treatment. Willows has access to state-of-the art diagnostic imaging facilities including digital radiography, CT scanning and MRI scanning.
What are the Most Common Conditions seen by the Soft Tissue Surgery Service?
The Soft Tissue Surgery team deals with a very wide range of conditions in both dogs and cats, mainly concerning the head and neck, respiratory tract (airway), chest and abdomen. Surgical management of cancer is also commonly performed.
Common conditions include:
- Ear nose and throat : Total ear canal ablation (TECA) and bulla osteotomy, brachycephalic airway syndrome (BOAS), laryngeal paralysis and tracheal collapse
- Urogenital: Congenital and acquired urinary incontinence, prostatic disease and cryptorchidism
- Oncological: Both hard and soft tissue tumours (cancers) including mast cell tumour, soft tissue sarcomas and oral tumours
- Gastrointestinal: Oesophageal foreign body removal, subtotal colectomy, colorectal surgery
- Wound management and reconstruction: Local/distant skin flaps and free skin grafting
- Vascular: Portosystemic shunts (abnormal blood vessels by-passing the liver)
- Cardiothoracic: Congenital cardiac defects, pericardiectomy, lung lobectomy, thymectomy,
pyothorax and chylothorax - Endocrine surgery: Thyroidectomy and adrenalectomy
- Hernia/rupture surgery: Perineal hernia, diaphragmatic rupture and pericardioperitoneal diaphragmatic hernia
Many soft tissue surgical patients require intensive nursing and support from our Internal Medicine, Anaesthesia and Emergency and Critical Care teams. At Willows we provide a multi-disciplinary approach to the care of all patients, our Soft Tissue Specialists work closely with our dedicated Nursing team and Specialists across all disciplines, enabling us to optimise the care and outcome for each patient.
What are the Most Common Conditions seen by the Soft Tissue Surgery Service?
The Soft Tissue Surgery team deals with a very wide range of conditions in both dogs and cats, mainly concerning the head and neck, respiratory tract (airway), chest and abdomen. Surgical management of cancer is also commonly performed.
Common conditions include:
- Ear nose and throat : Total ear canal ablation (TECA) and bulla osteotomy, brachycephalic airway syndrome (BOAS), laryngeal paralysis and tracheal collapse
- Urogenital: Congenital and acquired urinary incontinence, prostatic disease and cryptorchidism
- Oncological: Both hard and soft tissue tumours (cancers) including mast cell tumour, soft tissue sarcomas and oral tumours
- Gastrointestinal: Oesophageal foreign body removal, subtotal colectomy, colorectal surgery
- Wound management and reconstruction: Local/distant skin flaps and free skin grafting
- Vascular: Portosystemic shunts (abnormal blood vessels by-passing the liver)
- Cardiothoracic: Congenital cardiac defects, pericardiectomy, lung lobectomy, thymectomy,
pyothorax and chylothorax - Endocrine surgery: Thyroidectomy and adrenalectomy
- Hernia/rupture surgery: Perineal hernia, diaphragmatic rupture and pericardioperitoneal diaphragmatic hernia
Many soft tissue surgical patients require intensive nursing and support from our Internal Medicine, Anaesthesia and Emergency and Critical Care teams. At Willows we provide a multi-disciplinary approach to the care of all patients, our Soft Tissue Specialists work closely with our dedicated Nursing team and Specialists across all disciplines, enabling us to optimise the care and outcome for each patient.
What Facilities are Available at Willows?
Our operating theatres are equipped and managed to the highest of standards, enabling our Surgeons to provide the best chance of a good outcome for their patients. Willows has the most advanced surgical instrumentation, enabling our Specialists to perform all procedures necessary, including minimally-invasive surgery (keyhole surgery). Our Specialists are supported by a highly trained and caring team of Veterinary Nurses who play a critical role in rehabilitating patients following surgery.
What Facilities are Available at Willows?
Our operating theatres are equipped and managed to the highest of standards, enabling our Surgeons to provide the best chance of a good outcome for their patients. Willows has the most advanced surgical instrumentation, enabling our Specialists to perform all procedures necessary, including minimally-invasive surgery (keyhole surgery). Our Specialists are supported by a highly trained and caring team of Veterinary Nurses who play a critical role in rehabilitating patients following surgery.
Meet Our Specialists
Dr Stephen Baines
MA VetMB PhD CertVR CertSAS DipECVS DipClinOnc MRCVS
Head of Oncology
RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Oncology
Chris Shales
MA VetMB CertSAS DipECVS MRCVS
Head of Soft Tissue Surgery
European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
RCVS Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
Lara Dempsey
BVetMed GPCertSAS GPCertSAM CertAVP(GSAS) DipECVS MRCVS
RCVS and European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
Will Robinson
BVetMed MSc BSAVA PGCertSAS DipECVS MRCVS
European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
Erika Villedieu
DVM MRCVS
ECVS Resident in Small Animal Surgery
Vassilis Chantziaras
DVM CertAVP PgCertVPS MRCVS
ECVS Resident in Small Animal Surgery
Kine Elmenhorst
BVMedSci BVM BVS PGCert Veterinary Medicine and Surgery MRCVS
ECVS Resident in Small Animal Surgery
Soft Tissue Surgery – Find out more
To assist owners in understanding more about Soft Tissue Surgery we have put together a range of information sheets to talk you through the some of the more common soft tissue conditions seen and treated by our Specialists.
Condition:
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Treatment:
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