Central Venous Pressure Measurements in the Caudal Vena Cava of Sedated Cats

The caudla vena cava (CVA) was evaluated as an laternative site for the measurement of central venous pressure (CPV) in six healthy, sedated (ketamine 10 mg/km, midazolam 0.1 mg/kg, and atropine 0.04 mg/kg IM) cats. The CVC was cathererized via medial saphenous puncture, and estimates of CPV from this site compared to those obtained via a jugular catheter. Simulataneous CPV values were recorded electronically (mmgh), via calibrated pressure transducer positioned at the level of the manubrium in cats in lateral recumbency. Five readings, performed at 1 minute intervals, were collected from the jugular and CVC catheters at rest (baseline) and following a rapid fluid bolus. Twenty-four hours later, cats were resedated, baseline measurements repeated, and CVPs recorded following a rapid, 25% whole-blood volume bleed. CVP measurements from the jugular and CVC were statistically compared using repeated measures ANOVA (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between the two sites in the baseline and bleed trials. Significant defferences between jugular and CVC CVPs were noted at 1 and 2 minutes following the fluid bolus. It was concluded that CVC is an alternative site for measurement of CPV in sedated cats.     

Use of Multidetector Computed Tomography in the Assessment of Dogs with Pericardial Effusion

Background

Contrast‐enhanced multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) allows high spatial and temporal resolution imaging of cardiac, thoracic, and abdominal structures. Accurate determination of the cause of pericardial effusion (PE) is essential to providing appropriate treatment and prognosis. Echocardiography and pericardial fluid analysis may not differentiate between causes of PE and cannot identify extracardiac metastasis.

Hypothesis/Objectives

Describe the thoracic and abdominal MDCT findings and evaluate the utility of MDCT to differentiate between neoplastic and nonneoplastic causes of PE in dogs.

Animals

Eleven client‐owned dogs with PE diagnosed by echocardiography.

Methods

Prospective observational study. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), 3‐view thoracic radiography, and contrast‐enhanced thoracic and abdominal MDCT images were evaluated for the presence of cardiac masses, pulmonary metastases, and abdominal masses. Histopathology in 5 dogs and survival analysis in all dogs were evaluated.

Results

A neoplastic cause was identified in 6/11 dogs and a nonneoplastic cause was identified in 5/11. Cardiac MDCT findings were consistent with TTE findings in all dogs with right atrial (5/5) and heart base masses (1/1). Pulmonary metastases were identified in 1/11 dogs by thoracic radiography and in 2/11 dogs by MDCT. MDCT identified splenic or hepatic lesions consistent with neoplasia in 6/11 and 5/11 dogs, respectively. Focal MDCT pericardial changes at the pericardiocentesis site were noted in 3/11 dogs.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Multidetector computed tomography did not improve the detection of cardiac masses in dogs with PE over echocardiography. The benefit of MDCT was primarily in the detection of pulmonary metastases and extracardiac lesions using a single imaging modality.     

Diagnostic Yield of Cytologic Analysis of Pericardial Effusion in Dogs

Background

Pericardial effusion cytology is believed by many to be of limited value, yet few studies have evaluated its diagnostic utility.

Objectives

To determine the diagnostic utility of cytologic analysis of pericardial effusion in dogs and to determine if consideration of additional data could improve the diagnostic yield.

Animals

Two hundred and fifty‐nine dogs with cytologic analysis of pericardial effusion performed between April 1990 and June 2012.

Methods

Electronic medical records from a university teaching hospital were retrospectively reviewed; signalment, complete blood count, serum biochemistry, cytologic analysis of pericardial effusion, and echocardiographic data were recorded. Cytology was classified as diagnostic (infectious or neoplastic) or nondiagnostic (hemorrhagic or other) and groups were compared with multiple Student''s t‐tests.

Results

Cytology was grouped as nondiagnostic (92.3%) or diagnostic (7.7%) and characterized as hemorrhagic (90%), neoplastic (4.6%), infectious (3.1%), or other (2.3%). Overall cytologic analysis of pericardial effusion diagnostic utility was 7.7% and increased to 20.3% if the effusion hematocrit (HCT) <10%; echocardiographic evidence of a mass did not result in a significant increase in the diagnostic utility.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

The diagnostic utility of cytologic analysis of canine pericardial effusion is variable depending on the underlying etiology. In this group of dogs, the diagnostic yield of cytologic analysis was greater for pericardial effusion samples in which the HCT was less than 10%.     

Congenital Interruption of the Portal Vein and Caudal Vena Cava in Dogs: Six Case Reports and a Review of the Literature

Objective —To describe six dogs with congenital abnormalities involving the portal vein, caudal vena cava, or both.
Animals —Six client-owned dogs with congenital interruption of the portal vein or the caudal vena cava, or both.
Methods —Portal vein and caudal vena cava anatomy was evaluated by contrast radiography and visualization at surgery. Vascular casts or plastinated specimens were obtained in three animals.
Results —Portal blood shunted into the caudal vena cava in four dogs and the left hepatic vein in one. Two of these five dogs also had interruption of the caudal vena cava with continuation as azygous vein, as did an additional dog, in which the portal vein was normally formed. Portal vein interruption was present in 5 of 74 (6.8%) dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts evaluated at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital during the study period.
Conclusions —Serious malformations of the abdominal veins were present in more than 1 in 20 dogs with single congenital portosystemic shunts.
Clinical Relevance —Veterinarians involved in diagnosis and surgery for portosystemic shunts should be aware of these potential malformations, and portal vein continuity should be evaluated in all dogs before attempting shunt attenuation.     

犬猫肠道疾病的实验室诊断方法

犬猫的慢性肠道疾病是一类常见的临床疾病,其主要表现特异性较小,能引起发病的原因较多,临床诊断难度较大。论文主要综述了血清胰蛋白酶样免疫反应、血清叶酸和维生素B12浓度检测,肠道膜通透性检测,肠道蛋白质丢失的评估等实验室诊断方法,为犬猫肠道疾病的诊断提供参考。     

Nephroblastoma in a Cat: The Effects of Nephrectomy and Occlusion of the Caudal Vena Cava

Abstract— A nephroblastoma of the right kidney was observed in a young male cat. The affected kidney and a portion of the vena cava was surgically removed. After failure to establish a patent caval-portal shunt, it was found that the vertebral vein system functioned as a bypass for caval blood flow. Metastatic tumor which became apparent in the lungs and peritoneum five and eight months after ablation of the primary tumor was removed by excision biopsy.
Résumé—Un néphoroblastome du rein droit a é t é observé chez un jeune chat mâle. Le rein malade et une partie de la vena cava ont é t é enlevé chirurgicalement. Après un échec pour établir une anastomose caval-portal pérméable, on a trouvé que le système veineux vertébral fonctionnait comme un court-circuit pour le sang de la veine cave. Une tumeur métastatique apparue dans les poumons et le péritoine 5 et 8 mois après l'ablation de la tumeur a é t é enlevée par une biopsie d'exérèse.
Zusammenfassung— Ein Nephroblastom der rechten Niere wurde bei einem jungen Kater fest-gestellt. Die befallene Niere und ein Teil der Vena cava wurden chirurgisch entfernt. AIs es nicht gelungen war, eine offene Cava-Porta-Verbindung herzustellen, wurde festgestellt, dass das vertebrale Venensystem als Umgehung des Cavawegs diente. Metastatische Tumoren, die in den Lungen und im Peritoneum fünf und acht Monate nach der Entfernung des primären Tumors auftraten, wurden durch Excisionbiopsie entfernt.