MEET THE
Soft Tissue Surgery TEAM


Our Soft Tissue Surgery service performs the majority of surgical procedures that do not fall under the remit of our Orthopaedic surgery team. Led by RCVS and European Specialists, the team works closely with specialists across our disciplines, as part of our multi-disciplinary approach to patient care. Dedicated Theatre Nurses and Technicians work alongside our Soft Tissue surgeons to ensure our patients receive only the best possible care.


Esteban Gonzàlez-Gasch

Head of Soft Tissue Surgery

DVM DiplECVS MRCVS

RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery

Esteban graduated from Autonomous Barcelona University (UAB) in 2002. After spending two years working in France as a GP, he completed his rotating internship at UAB (2005). Then, he spent three years working in Barcelona as a GP focused mainly on soft tissue surgeries, before moving to Paris to complete his ECVS residency. He obtained his ECVS diploma in 2014 and has worked as a Specialist in Soft Tissue and Orthopaedic Surgery in referrals centres in the UK and Spain.

He joined Southfields Veterinary Specialists in 2017 and has an interest in both orthopaedic and soft tissue procedures (especially oncology and minimally invasive surgery).

E. Peneva, E. Gonzàlez-Gasch, J. Caline Sumping, K. Rigas (2024), Hypercalcaemia as a suspected paraneoplastic syndrome to feline intestinal leiomyosarcoma. Veterinary Record Case Report http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/vrc2.836

H. Kaniok, E. Gonzàlez-Gasch, E. Alloway, A. Suarez-Bonnet (2021), An unusual presentation of a Hepatic Ductal Malformation in a Boxer dog. Veterinary Record Case Report http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/vrc2.16

A. Rochester, E.Gonzàlez-Gasch, D. Casamian-Sorrosal, K. Erles (2021) Suspected spontaneous idiopathic pulmonary pneumo-haematocele in a dog. Vet Record Case Report https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/vrc2.75

A.Maldonado-Moreno, M.Blanchart, P.Clemente-Vicario, E.Gonzàlez-Gasch, L.Feo-Bernabe (2019) Multimodal treatment approach in a case of feline ventral abdominal angiosarcoma. Vet Record Case Report http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vetreccr-2018-000679

E. Gonzàlez-Gasch, E. Monnet (2015) Comparison of single port access versus multiple port access systems in elective laparoscopy: 98 dogs (2005-2014).  Veterinary Surgery 44(7):895-9

E. Gonzàlez-Gasch, P.Rivier, J.F. Bardet. (2013) Free proximal cortical ulnar autograft for the treatment of distal radial osteosarcoma in a dog. Canadian Veterinary Journal 54(2): 162–166.

E. Gonzàlez-Gasch, J.J. Labruyère, J.F. Bardet (2012) Computed Tomography of ununited anconeal process in the dog. Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 25(6):498-505

Sofia García-Pertierra, Esteban Gonzàlez-Gasch, Carmen Catalá Puyol, and Jose María Closa Boixeda (2017) Dynamic chronic obstruction causing severe colonic dilation in a cat Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (1-5) https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2055116917725222

Veronique Livet

Head of Orthopaedic Service

DVM, MRCVS, IPSAV, MSc, Dip. ECVS

Veronique graduated from VetAgro Sup, Veterinary Campus of Lyon (France) in 2013. She completed just after her graduation, a rotating internship in small animals at the University of Montréal (Canada) in 2014. She then studied for her Master’s degree in Biomechanics at the University of Lyon (France) and completed at the same time a surgical internship at VetAgro Sup, Veterinary Campus of Lyon (France) in 2015.
Veronique finally completed her 3 years residency program in small animal surgery at VetAgro Sup, Veterinary Campus of Lyon (France) in 2018 and she obtained her ECVS diploma in February 2020.
She moved to the UK in 2019 where she worked in a referral hospital in the south of England for 4 years., joining Southfields Veterinary Specialists in 2023.

Veronique enjoys all aspects of small animal surgery but she has a special interest in all joint pathologies and fracture repair.

During her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking and baking, going to the gym, hiking with her dog, and traveling as much as she can.


Dr Henry L’Eplattenier

Specialists in Small Animal Surgery

Dr. Med. Vet PhD DiplECVS MRCVS

RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery

Henry L’Eplattenier was born and grew up in Neuchâtel, in the French-speaking region of Switzerland. He studied at Bern University, then worked for the pharmaceutical company Ciba-Geigy in Basle (now part of Novartis) as a doctoral student in the Toxicology Department, where he completed a Swiss doctorate on nephrotoxicity testing of drugs using cell cultures.

Henry worked in large animal practice for one year in the beautiful and rural Jura mountains just south of Basle, before joining the Small Animal Hospital at Zurich University. He spent four years there and completed his specialist training in Small Animal Surgery under the supervision of Prof Pierre Montavon (the inventor of the Zurich Cementless Hip Prosthesis for dogs).

He obtained his Diploma of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) in 1998, then emigrated from Switzerland and moved to Oslo, Norway to live with his partner. After learning Norwegian, he joined the Norwegian Veterinary College as an assistant professor in Small Animal Surgery. In 2001, Henry was offered a position as a soft tissue surgeon at Utrecht University. He spent the next 5 years as a lecturer in Utrecht, where he was mainly responsible for the Small Animal urology consultations and operations.

Henry left Utrecht University to join VRCC in 2006, where he is a consultant surgeon and head of Surgery. In 2008 he was also made a director of the clinic. In 2009, Henry obtained his PhD from Utrecht University for the research on prostate cancer in dogs that he conducted while he was a lecturer there.

Henry has been involved in the Examination Committee of the ECVS and has also been a member of the Board of the ECVS. In 2015 he was elected President-Elect and is now the President of the ECVS. Henry was made Clinical Director in December 2016 when VRCC joined the Linnaeus Group and became Southfields Veterinary Specialists.

L’Eplattenier HF, Zhao J, Pfannkuch F, Scholtysik G, Wüthrich A (1990) Cell Culture in Nephrotoxicity Testing Toxicology Letters  53, 227-229

Graepel PH, L’Eplattenier HF, Pfannkuch F, Bentley P (1992) Understanding Pamidronate (Cyto-)toxicity Bone and Mineral 17, Suppl 1, 28

L’Eplattenier HF and Montavon PM (1997) Avulsion Fractures of the Femoral Head: Internal Fixation Using a Ventral Approach to the Hip Joint VCOT 1, 23-26

L’Eplattenier HF and Montavon PM (1998) Traumatisch bedingte Mukozoele des Sinus frontalis bei zwei Hunden Schweiz Arch Tierheilk  140/8, 333-336

Koch DA, Grundmann S, Savoldelli D, L’Eplattenier H, Montavon PM (1998) Die Diagnostik der Patellaluxation des Kleintieres Schweiz Arch Tierheilk  140/9, 371-374

Stöcklin P, L’Eplattenier H, Montavon PM (1999) Avulsion der Ursprungssehne des Muskulus Extensor Digitalis Longus bei einem Dobermann Schweiz Arch Tierheilk  141/2, 53-57

Reichler IM, Grundmann S, Koch D, Savoldelli D, L’Eplattenier H, Montavon P (1999) Diagnostische Effizienz der Vorsorgeuntersuchung der Patellaluxation bei Zwerghunderassen Kleintierpraxis  44/11, 805-884

L’Eplattenier H, Montavon PM (2002) Patella luxation in dogs and cats: Part I: Pathogenesis and diagnosis Comp Cont Educ 24(3), 234-239

L’Eplattenier H, Montavon PM (2002) Patella luxation in dogs and cats: Part II: Management and prevention Comp Cont Educ  24(4), 292-298

Scheepens E, L’Eplattenier HF (2005) Iatrogenic bladder diverticulum in a dog. J Small Anim Pract 46(12), 578-81.

Scheepens E, Peeters ME, L’Eplattenier HF, Kirpensteijn J (2006) Thoracic bite trauma in dogs; a comparison of clinical and radiological parameters with surgical results. J Small Anim Pract.  47(12), 721-6.

L’Eplattenier HF, van Nimwegen SA, Kirpensteijn J, van Sluijs F (2006) Partial prostatectomy in the management of canine prostatic carcinoma. Vet Surg  35(4), 406-11.

L’Eplattenier HF, Lai CL, van den Ham R, Mol JA, van Sluijs FJ, Teske E (2007) Regulation of COX-2 Expression in Canine Prostate Carcinoma: Increased COX-2 Expression is Not Related to Inflammation Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine  21, 776–782

Lai CL, L’Eplattenier HF, van den Ham R, Verseijden F, Jagtenberg A, Mol JA, Teske E (2008) Androgen receptor CAG repeat polymorphisms in canine prostate cancer J Vet Intern Med  22:1380-1384

van Nimwegen SA, L’Eplattenier HF, Rem AI, van der Lugt JJ, Kirpensteijn J (2008) Nd:YAG surgical laser effects in canine prostate tissue: Temperature and damage distribution. Phys Med Biol  54(1):29-44

L’Eplattenier HF, Klem B, Teske E, van Sluijs FJ, van Nimwegen SA, Kirpensteijn J (2008) Preliminary results of intraoperative photodynamic therapy with 5-aminolevulinic acid in dogs with prostate carcinoma. The Veterinary Journal 178:202-207

Clark BS, L’Eplattenier HF (2010) Zygomatic salivary mucocoele as a postoperative complication following caudal hemimaxillectomy in a dog. Journal of Small Animal Practice  51:495-498

Guérin VJ, Visser ‘t Hooft KW, L’Eplattenier HF (2012) Transitional cell carincoma involving the ductus deferens in a dog. JAVMA  240(4):446-449

L’Eplattenier HF, Teske E, Van Sluijs F, Mol JA (2014) CAG-repeats in the androgen receptor gene relate with plasma androgen levels in the Bouvier des Flandres. In Vivo  28(6):1051-1055

Bataller L, Tamborini A, L’Eplattenier H, Necova S, Robertson E (2017) Successful treatment of tracheal lymphoma in a Siamese cat. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports doi: 10.1177/2055116917742529, eCollection 2017 Jul-Dec

Contributions to books

Chapter on approach to the abdomen and opening of abdominal organs in Leren opereren (English translation The Cutting Edge), edited by Prof. J. Kirpensteijn, Roman House Publishers Ltd, Ripon, United Kingdom, 2006. ISBN-10: 0-9554100-0-2, ISBN-13: 978-0-9554100-0-0

A.M. van Dongen and H.F. L’Eplattenier, Kidneys and Urinary Tract. In A. Rijnberk and F.J. van Sluijs (eds) Medical History and Physical Examination in Companion Animals, 2nd edition, Saunders, Oxford, UK, 2009

L’Eplattenier HF. Chapter 75: Prostatic Cyst and Abscess Drainage. In: Complications in Small Animal Surgery, edited by Dominique Griffon and Annick Hamaide, first edition, John Wiley and Sons, 2016

L’Eplattenier HF. Chapter 76: Prostatectomy. In: Complications in Small Animal Surgery, edited by Dominique Griffon and Annick Hamaide, first edition, John Wiley and Sons, 2016

L’Eplattenier HF. Tumoren der Prostata. In: Kleintieronkologie, edited by Martin Kessler, 2nd edition, Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, In press

Carlos Rubiños Alonso

Specialist in Small Animal Surgery

Lic.Vet. PgCertVMS PgCertSAS MVetMed DipECVS MRCVS
RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Small Animal Surgery

Carlos graduated from the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) in 2011. He worked at the University Teaching Hospital for two years, during which time he completed a rotating internship. He decided to move to the UK in 2014 to pursue specialisation in Surgery. Since then he has completed a rotating internship, three years in general practice, and a Surgery Internship at Southfields Veterinary Specialists. He has published in scientific journals and has also achieved a Postgraduate Certificate in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (2016) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Surgery (2018).

In 2022 Carlos completed a 3-year Small Animal Surgery Residency programme and a Master of Veterinary Medicine at the Royal Veterinary College before returning to Southfields Veterinary Specialists. He obtained his ECVS diploma in February 2023.

Carlos is an avid reader and a movie and board game enthusiast. In his spare time he also enjoys sports, painting, spending time with friends and visiting his family in Spain.

“Traumatic physeal fractures in cats: a review of 36 cases (2010-2020)” – Carlos Rubinos, Richard L Meeson; J Feline Med Surg. 2022 Feb;24(2):98-106.

“Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of olfactory bulb angle and soft palate dimensions in brachycephalic and nonbrachycephalic dogs” – Barker DA, Rubiños C, Taeymans O, Demetriou JL; Am J Vet Res. 2018 Feb;79(2): 170-176.

“Modified tube gastropexy using a mushroom-tipped silicone catheter for management of gastric dilatation-volvulus in dogs” – Belch A, Rubinos C, Barnes DC, Nelissen P; J Small Anim Pract. 2017 Feb;58(2): 79-88.

“Concurrent cranial and caudal sartorius muscle flaps for reconstruction of an abdominal wall defect after resection of a high grade rhabdomyosarcoma in a dog” – Rubiños C, Trinterud T, Demetriou JL; Vet Rec Case Rep 2016; 4: 1 e000276.

Francesco Gemignani

Surgery Clinician

DVM, SCMPA, Msc Clin Onc, PgCert SAS, PhD, MRCVS

Francesco graduated from University of Pisa (Italy) in 2003. After working in his private Practice in Italy for 10 years, he achieved the Italian Diploma in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery at University of Milan in 2010.
In 2015 Francesco completed a PhD in Soft Tissue Surgery at University of Padua (Italy), during which he spent a research period in the US at University of Florida and UCDAVIS.

Francesco moved to the UK in 2015 following his willingness to become a specialist in Surgery. He has worked for several referral centres in the UK as Soft Tissue Surgeon, and has obtained a Master Science Programme in Clinical Oncology at University of Birmingham in 2017 and a Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Surgery at University of Chester in 2021. Later he completed a 3-years Residency Programme in Small Animal Surgery at a multidisciplinary referral centre in the UK.

Francesco has published several papers on peer-reviewed journals about soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery and has also been a speaker at several congresses and continuing education courses.
He has a special interest in Surgical Oncology but also enjoys both Soft Tissue and Orthopaedic Surgery.

When not at work, he loves travelling and spending as much time as possible with his family.


Verónica Rodiño Tilve

Surgery Clinician

BVSc GPCert PgC SAS MRCVS

Veronica graduated from the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain) in 2010. After a year as a small animal intern at the same university hospital she moved to the UK where she spent two years working in small animal general practice in Edinburgh and Cheshire. In 2015 she moved back to Scotland where she completed a general internship, followed by a six-month surgical internship at the University of Glasgow. Two years working in general practice in Liverpool and London enabled her to attain a Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Surgery in 2018. She then completed a 12-month orthopaedic internship at the University of Liverpool before joining Southfields Veterinary Specialists in July 2020 as a small animal surgery resident. Veronica completed her residency program in June 2023 and stayed at Southfields Veterinary Specialists as a surgery clinician. She is particularly interested in minimally invasive surgery, enjoying many other aspects of soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery.

Outside work, Veronica loves travelling, camping and a bunch of outdoor activities.

Rodiño Tilve V, Allaith S, Girling S, et al. Long-term follow up of 44 cats undergoing total hip replacement: Cases from a feline hip registry (2010-2020). Veterinary Surgery.

Rodiño Tilve V, Maddox T, Ressel L, Pettitt R. Osseous Metaplasia of the Transverse Humeral Ligament in a 10-Year-Old Bengal Cat. VCOT Open. 2022;5(1):e6-e10.

Tilve VR, Finck M, Leach JDG, Macfarlane MJ. Sialolipoma of the parotid salivary gland in two dogs. Veterinary Record Case Reports. 2017;5(2):1-5.

Rodiño-Tilve V, Guevar J, Hammond G, Penderis J. Incomplete ossification of the atlas in a dog: surgical stabilisation using a SOP plate. The Journal of small animal practice. 2017;58(5):301.

Vasileia Logothetou

Surgery Resident

DVM, PgCert (SAS), MRCVS

Vasileia graduated from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece in 2015. After graduating she moved to the UK and worked in a busy small animal practice in Kent. In July 2017, Vasileia started a small animal rotating internship in a private multidisciplinary hospital in Hampshire. After completing the rotating internship, she returned to first opinion practice and worked in various practices around Hampshire and Essex, while undergoing a postgraduate certificate in small animal surgery. In April 2020, Vasileia joined the University of Liverpool as a locum surgery and anaesthesia intern for 6 months, before joining Southfields Veterinary Specialists as a surgical intern in October 2020. before starting her surgical residency in April 2022. She enjoys all aspects of small animal surgery but is especially interested in reconstructive, gastrointestinal surgery and fracture repair.

In her spare time, Vasileia enjoys playing computer games, travelling and spending time with friends.

Gall, N., Parsons, K., Radke, H., Comerford, E., Mielke, B., Grierson, J., Ryan, J., Addison, E., Logothetou, V., Blaszyk, A. and Langley-Hobbs, S.J., 2022. Analysis of feline humeral fracture morphology and a comparison of fracture repair stabilisation methods: 101 cases (2009–2020). Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 24(6), pp.e19-e27.

Logothetou, V., Pappa, E., Pettitt, R. and Comerford, E., 2022. Use of bone anchors for the treatment of partial and complete traumatic elbow luxations: A retrospective case series of three dogs. Veterinary Record Case Reports, p.e387.

Logothetou, V., Lataretu, A., Isaya, R., Eiras-Diaz, A. and Shimizu, N., 2022. Migrating grass awns in the proximal ureter of a dog. The Journal of Small Animal Practice.

Logothetou, V., Harper, A. and Shimizu, N., 2022. Use of a folded lip‐to‐nose flap for unilateral reconstruction of the nasal planum in a dog. Veterinary Record Case Reports, 10(2), p.e280.

Rafael Molina Goicoechea

Surgical Resident

MRCVS

Rafael obtained his veterinary degree at the University of Murcia (Spain), as well as a Master’s Degree in Small Animal Medicine. Afterwards, he undertook several postgraduate surgical courses with the aim of improving both knowledge and skills in small animal surgery. Additionally, Rafael did externships at the surgery department of different referral hospitals in Europe and the UK such as Queen Mother Hospital for Companion Animals (UK), and Ghent Veterinary Hospital (Belgium).

In 2018 he completed a rotating internship at “Aúna Especialidades Veterinarias” in Valencia (Spain). In October 2019 he undertook a Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Traumatology and Orthopaedics in Spain.

In 2020, after a few years of working in private practice, Rafael moved to the United Kingdom. He continued his training with a rotating internship at Pride Veterinary Centre (Derby) and a Surgery Internship at Highcroft Veterinary Referrals (Bristol). He joined the Surgery team at Southfields in 2022 to complete a second Surgery Internship, before starting his Residency programme in 2023.

In his spare time, Rafael likes running and mountain biking when the weather allows it. He enjoys cooking and doing carpentry and has a dog named Mila and two tortoises named Manuelita and Manuel.


Natalie Heathcote

Rotating Intern

BVSc MRCVS

Natalie qualified from the University of Liverpool in 2020. Following graduation she spent two years at an independent small animal practice in Surrey.

Natalie enjoys a wide range of areas, particularly internal medicine and surgery, and has also enjoyed managing more critical and unstable cases too.

Outside of work, she loves martial arts and strength training. Natalie is working towards her brown belt in Jiu Jitsu and has achieved black belt in Karate.

She also enjoys exhibiting her family’s kennel of Scottish Deerhounds and judging at Championship shows.


Kiren Kooner

Surgical Intern

BVetMed MRCVS

Kiren graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2020. After graduating in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic Kiren started her new graduate role in small animal general practice in her hometown of Rugby for 18 months, after which she completed a rotating internship at North Downs Specialist Referrals. In her spare time Kiren enjoys playing netball, going to the gym, eating yummy food and travelling.


Katie Rose

Senior Surgical Registered Veterinary Nurse

RVN

Katie qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2017. After completion of her training, Katie worked in a busy 24 hour veterinary hospital where she developed an interest in emergency and critical care.

Outside of work, Katie enjoys keeping fit and loves to take part in giant obstacle courses. Katie also enjoys travelling.


Leanne Anderson

Surgical Registered Veterinary Nurse

RVN

Leanne studied Art and Design at college but after a short while, she decided that she wanted a career working with animals. Leanne began by volunteering in a cattery before she took up the role as trainee veterinary nurse at a local practice in 2000. After three years of studying and working within a first opinion, ophthalmology referral and exotic referral practice, Leanne qualified with Merit. Leanne joined our nursing team in 2007 and loves all aspects of referral nursing, but has a special interest in surgery.

Leanne has a cat called Minstrel and a rather large collection of creepy crawlies. She lives with her husband and her little boy.


Kayleigh Bowen

Surgical Registered Veterinary Nurse

RVN

Kayleigh volunteered and worked in a first opinion practice for six years before joining Southfields Veterinary Specialists in February 2021. During this time she worked with cats, dogs, small furries and exotics. Kayleigh enjoys all aspects of nursing but has a special interest in diagnostic imaging.

When not at work, Kayleigh likes to practice yoga and take her dog for walks.