Extra-Abdominal Applications of the Greater Omentum in Canine and Feline Surgery: Current Knowledge, Surgical Techniques, and Clinical Perspectives

Vollständiger Abstract

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Background: The greater omentum is a highly vascularized and biologically active structure with drainage, immunomodulatory, proangiogenic, and proregenerative properties. Although it is widely used in abdominal surgery, its extra-abdominal application in dogs and cats remains less standardized. Methods: This review summarizes the available veterinary literature on extra-abdominal omentalization in small animals, including case reports, case series, experimental studies, and selected comparative data, supplemented by relevant evidence from human reconstructive surgery. Results: Two main surgical strategies are described: transposition of a pedicled omental flap with preservation of vascular continuity and free omental grafting, with or without microvascular anastomosis. Reported applications include thoracic surgery, chronic and infected wounds, orthopedic conditions associated with impaired healing, head and neck reconstruction, and experimental neurosurgical procedures. The omentum may support healing by improving vascularization, filling dead space, promoting drainage, and contributing to infection control. Conclusions: Current evidence suggests that extra-abdominal omentalization may be valuable as an adjunctive technique in selected complex cases, particularly when infection, poor vascularization, dead space, or delayed healing are present. However, further clinical studies are needed to define indications, outcomes, and safety more precisely.