Comparison of an Antimicrobial Adhesive Drape and Povidone-lodine Preoperative Skin Preparation in Dogs

The antimicrobial efficacy of an adhesive drape applied after a 1-minute alcohol scrub was compared to a povidone-iodine (PI) skin preparation technique in dogs. Each technique was applied to both sides of 15 adult anesthetized dogs on premeasured, clipped areas of skin. Skin bacteria were quantified before, immediately after, and 1 hour after skin preparation. Predominant skin bacteria were isolated by swabbing the skin. The percentages of bacterial reduction immediately after and 1 hour after skin preparation, percentages of negative culture results, cultures with more than five colony-forming units, and the frequency of skin reactions were calculated and analyzed statistically. Drape adhesion was assessed subjectively. The percentage reduction in skin bacteria was significant for both techniques and comparable to that reported in humans. The adhesive drape was significantly less effective in both the immediate and 1-hour periods. Lift occurred in 66% of drape applications but was not associated with high bacterial counts. Acute contact dermatitis was more frequent after skin preparation with PI. There was no difference between the techniques in recovery of potential skin pathogens. The authors conclude that application of this antimicrobial adhesive drape after a 1-minute alcohol scrub is not as effective in the reduction of skin bacteria in dogs as is PI preparation of the skin.     

Essential Fatty Acids and the Cat

Abstract— The physiology of essential fatty acid metabolism in the cat is reviewed. Emphasis is placed on those aspects of the n:6 and n:3 fatty acids, their metabolites and interactions, which relate primarily to the skin. The functional roles, if known, of the fatty acids are discussed. Recent clinical research into the use of essential fatty acid supplements in the management of feline dermatoses is presented. Current indications for the therapeutic supplementation with essential fatty acids are summarised.     

Long-term Outcome of Tooth Repulsion in Horses A Retrospective Study of 61 Cases

The records of 61 horses undergoing tooth repulsion for treatment of alveolar periostitis were reviewed. Seventeen of 36 horses (47%) in which maxillary teeth were removed had serious postoperative complications, such as infection of a second tooth, bone sequestration, chronic sinusitis, draining tracts, retained dental packing, feed impaction of the alveolus or sinus, suture-line dehiscence, or skin-flap sloughs. Eight horses required at least one additional surgical procedure. Eight of 25 horses (32%) in which mandibular teeth were removed had serious postoperative complications, and four horses required an additional surgical procedure. Hospitalization lasted 2 to 61 days (median, 22 days) for maxillary teeth and 3 to 35 days (median, 8 days) for mandibular teeth. Long-term follow-up (at least 5 months) was possible in 47 horses. Twenty-four of 30 horses (80%) with maxillary tooth repulsion healed without further problems; six horses had persistent nasal discharge. Fourteen of 17 horses (82%) with mandibular tooth repulsion healed with no further problems or with only minor complications; three horses had a chronic draining tract.     

Urinary Incontinence after Prostatectomy in Dogs

Eleven dogs with prostatic disease were treated by total prostatectomy. Urinary incontinence persisted in three of nine dogs, two of which were also incontinent before surgery. The incidence of postoperative incontinence may be reduced by undermining the prostatic capsule to preserve as much prostatic urethra as possible. The risk of postoperative incontinence appeared greater if there was prostatic neoplasia or preoperative urinary incontinence.     

Temporary Bile Diversion in Cats with Experimental Extrahepatic Bile Duct Obstruction

The use of a cholecystostomy catheter for temporary bile diversion was investigated in four cats with experimentally induced extrahepatic bile duct obstruction. Eighteen days after ligation of the common bile duct, a 6.5 F accordion catheter was placed in the gallbladder with a 22 g Hawkins needle-guide system through a paracostal incision. Biochemical parameters and fasting serum bile acids were monitored for 16 days. There were significant decreases in mean total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase, and fasting serum bile acids within 72 hours of bile diversion, and in mean alanine aminotransferase within 96 hours. Attitude and appetite improved, and the catheter was tolerated well. Positive bile cultures developed in three cats. Histologic changes in the gallbladder included mucosal ulcerations, a mixed inflammatory cellular infiltration, and fibrosis of the submucosa.     

Material in the middle ear of dogs having magnetic resonance imaging for investigation of neurologic signs

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and potential significance of finding material in the middle ear of dogs having magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Of 466 MR studies reviewed, an increased signal was identified in the tympanic bulla in 32 (7%) dogs. Cavalier King Charles spaniels, Cocker spaniels, Bulldogs, and Boxers were over-represented compared to the population of dogs having MR imaging. Five (16%) dogs had definite otitis media and one (3%) had a meningioma invading the middle ear. Of the remaining dogs, 13 (41%) had possible otitis media and 13 (41%) had neurologic conditions apparently unrelated to otitis media. The most common appearance of material in the middle ear was isointense in T1-weighted images and hyperintense in T2-weighted images. There was no apparent correlation between the signal characteristics of the material and the diagnosis. Enhanced signal after gadolinium administration was observed affecting the lining of the bulla in dogs with otitis media and in dogs with unrelated neurologic conditions. In dogs without clinical signs of otitis media, finding an increased signal in the middle ear during MR imaging may reflect subclinical otitis media or fluid accumulation unrelated to inflammation. Brachycephalic dogs may be predisposed to this condition.     

SUBTRACTION PORTAL VENOGRAPHY

Photographic subtraction was made of 38 canine portal venograms to remove the images of the overlying abdominal structures and enhance the radiographic contrast of portal veins. The improved visual quality of the subtracted portogram aided in the detection of portosystemic shunts and intrahepatic portal veins. The subtraction studies revealed portosystemic shunts not detected on the initial portal venogram.     

Drug residues in food animals. III. Plasma and tissue kinetics of potassium penicillin G in young cross-bred swine

Twenty-two young cross-bred swine were treated either intravenously or orally with potassium penicillin G. The pharmacokinetics of penicillin G were determined in plasma and tissues. The plasma half-life of penicillin G in swine was found to be 19.45±1.69 min, and the distribution and elimination kinetics were found to fit a classical two-compartment model. The volume of distribution was found to be 0.53±0.12 1/kg, and the body clearance was found to be 19.06±5.06 ml/min/kg which exceeded the effective renal plasma flow of 16.50±2.73 ml/min/kg, suggesting that the drug was eliminated both by tubular excretion and glomerular filtration. The elimination rate constants (Beta) for the major organs were as follows: muscle, 0.00343 min^-1; lung, 0.0310 min^-1; fat, 0.0394 min^-1; and kidney, 0.0213 min^-1, which compared favorably with the elimination rate constant found in plasma (0.0320 min^-1). These values were found to be significantly similar at the level of P < 0.005 in muscle, spleen and fat, and at a level of P < 0.025 in lung tissue. The data indicates that blood plasma would be a satisfactory body fluid for estimating this drug in tissue.     

INVESTIGATION OF TWO METHODS FOR ASSESSING THYROID-LOBE ASYMMETRY DURING PERTECHNETATE SCINTIGRAPHY IN SUSPECTED HYPERTHYROID CATS

Our aim was to investigate thyroid:thyroid (T:T) ratio and visual inspection for assessing thyroid-lobe asymmetry in suspected hyperthyroid cats. Although thyroid-salivary asymmetry is a preferred test, inherent thyroid symmetry may assist image interpretation. Association was determined using a scatter plot and Spearman's rank correlation. Agreement was assessed using the kappa (K) statistic. Accuracy was assessed by sensitivity and specificity. Hyperthyroidism was diagnosed in 33/48 (69%) cats based on elevated serum total thyroxine level. Using two Wilcoxan rank-sum tests, a significant difference (P < 0.0001) was detected between cats with and without hyperthyroidism for both methods of assessing thyroid symmetry. For the 18 cats with T:T ratios < or = 1.5, there was poor correlation between the two methods (r(s) = 0.39). Using a cut-point of 1.5 for the T:T ratio, the test accurately predicted hyperthyroidism in 28/33 cats (sensitivity, 85%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 71-99%) and correctly predicted that hyperthyroidism was absent in 14/15 cats (specificity, 93%; CI, 77-100%). For visual inspection, agreement for diagnosing hyperthyroidism was excellent between methods (kappa = 0.82), within the same examiner (weighted kappa = 0.85) and between examiners (weighted kappa = 0.89). Considering cats with only definitely asymmetric thyroid lobes as positive, visual inspection accurately predicted hyperthyroidism in 28/33 cats (sensitivity, 85%; CI, 71-99%) and correctly predicted that hyperthyroidism was absent in 11/15 cats (specificity, 73%; CI, 48-99%). Thyroid-lobe asymmetry occurs more frequently in hyperthyroid than in euthyroid cats but caution should be exercised because some euthyroid cats have asymmetric thyroid glands.     

Microvascular Free Tissue Transfer: Results in 57 Consecutive Cases

Objective —To evaluate the outcomes and complications in a consecutive series of animals undergoing microvascular reconstructive procedures at two veterinary institutions. Study Design—Retrospective study. Animals or Sample Population—A total of 44 client-owned dogs and one red-necked wallaby. Methods —The medical records of all animals undergoing reconstructive microsurgical procedures at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine and Michigan State University were reviewed. Microvascular flap survival and related complications were described. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the significance of relationships between operative factors and outcome. Results —A total of 57 microvascular procedures were performed on 55 animals. Reconstruction was required after trauma in 42 animals, after ablative cancer surgery in 11 animals and for correction of congenital tissue aplasia in 1 animal. Donor tissues included the superficial cervical cutaneous, medial saphenous fasciocutaneous or musculofasciocutaneous, caudal superficial epigastric cutaneous, trapezius muscle or musculocutaneous, caudal sartorius muscle, latissimus dorsi muscle or musculocutaneous, cranial abdominal myoperitoneal, carpal footpad, digital footpad, and vascularized ulnar bone flaps. A total of 53 of 57 flaps (93%) survived. There was a significant relationship between flap failure and level of assistant surgeon experience (P < .05). Latissimus dorsi flaps were significantly more likely to fail when compared with pooled data from all other flap types (P < .01). Conclusions —The success of microvascular tissue transfer in this case series compares favorably with those reported in human reconstructive microsurgery. Both the primary and assistant surgeon should be practiced in microsurgical technique. Failure of latissimus dorsi flaps was not likely caused by an inherently deficient flap design, but was more likely attributed to the location and severity of trauma at the recipient site, the difficulty in isolating suitable recipient vessels for anastomosis or the absence of a trained assistant surgeon during these procedures. Clinical Relevance —This retrospective study documents the successful application of microvascular technique in a series of clinical cases requiring tissue reconstruction.