Background
Splenectomy remains one of the most common abdominal procedures in canine surgery, indicated for splenic masses, torsion, and traumatic rupture. Intraoperative hemostasis along splenic vessels is a critical step and a leading source of bleeding complications.
The V-CLAMP vascular closure system combines adaptive pressure feedback with a biocompatible coating, designed to improve vessel management in small-to-medium companion animals. This retrospective review summarizes outcomes from six referral centers between January 2024 and December 2025.
Methods
Three hundred twenty-eight splenectomy cases were included: 216 in the V-CLAMP cohort and 112 in a conventional ligation control group. Inclusion criteria included dogs aged ≥1 year (5–30 kg), splenic tumor or torsion as the primary indication, normal preoperative coagulation, and surgery performed by V-CLAMP-certified surgeons.
- Age ≥ 1 year, body weight 5–30 kg
- Splenic tumor or torsion as primary indication
- Preoperative coagulation within reference range
- Certified surgeon for device cohort
Results
Statistical analysis showed significant advantages for the V-CLAMP group across key endpoints:
| Endpoint | V-CLAMP | Control |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated blood loss reduction | 67% | — |
| Procedure time reduction | 23% | — |
| Intraoperative leak rate | 0.5% | 4.2% |
| 30-day complication rate | 0.9% | 3.8% |
Adaptive clamping force reduced vessel wall trauma; histology showed better endothelial integrity at the closure site compared with conventional ties.
— Dr. Mingyuan Zhang, Chief Physician, Beijing Companion Animal Medical Center
In the splenic tumor subgroup (n = 156), 30-day survival was 94.2% with V-CLAMP versus 87.5% in controls (p = 0.038).
Discussion & Conclusion
These findings support V-CLAMP as an effective adjunct for canine splenectomy.
- Precise hemostasis: Pressure feedback keeps clamp force within a safe window.
- Efficiency: Faster vessel handling shortened overall procedure time.
- Favorable recovery: Low complication rates support broader adoption.
Future work will expand sample size through multicenter randomized trials and evaluate applications in hepatic and renal resection.
