Surgical Reduction of Ileal Impactions in the Horse: 28 Cases

Objective —To evaluate the seasonal influence, signalment, type of hay consumed, clinical examination findings, and outcome after surgery for horses with ileal impaction. Study Design —A retrospective study. Results —Between 1988 and 1993, 28 horses had surgical correction of ileal impaction. There was a significantly higher rate of ileal impaction during the Fall (September-November, P= .0041). Mean duration of clinical signs of abdominal pain before referral was 15 hours. Transrectal palpation was used to localize the impaction in 11 horses. The ileal impaction was reduced by extraluminal massage aided by admixing of intestinal fluid oral to the impaction or injection of fluids intraluminally and then movement of the ingesta into the cecum alone in 24 horses. A total of 26 horses recovered from surgery; 24 horses were discharged from the hospital and eventually returned to previous use. Two horses had fatal postoperative complications: jejunocec-ostomy dehiscence and development of extensive small intestine adhesions after manual reduction of the impaction. One horse initially treated by manual reduction required jejunocecostomy twice for management of recurrent ileal impaction. Follow-up information was obtained for 21 horses, of which 20 were alive 1 year or longer after surgery. A total of 27 of 28 horses were fed Coastal Bermudagrass hay as the primary type of hay consumed. A total of 9 horses continued to be fed Coastal Bermudagrass hay as the only roughage source, whereas 6 horses were fed Coastal Bermudagrass with at least 50% other hay, and in 6 horses, Coastal Bermudagrass hay was entirely eliminated from the diet. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance—Ileal impactions can be successfully reduced by celiotomy and extraluminal massage and injection techniques to soften the ingesta for passage into the cecum without enterotomy or bypass techniques in most horses. Changes in weather and feeding practices in the Fall may account for an increased risk of ileal impaction in horses in the southeastern United States at that time of year.     

Biomechanical Comparison of Six Suture Configurations Using a Large Diameter Polyester Prosthesis in the Muscular Process of the Equine Arytenoid Cartilage

Objective— To compare biomechanical properties of 6 suture configurations using a large diameter polyester prosthesis in the muscular process (MP) of the arytenoid cartilage and to determine failure mode.
Study Design— Experimental study.
Sample Population— Cadaveric equine larynges (n=121).
Methods— Suture configurations (4 single, 2 double) were inserted, and then constructs were tested in a single-cycle to failure at a 100 mm/min distraction. Load deformation curves were generated to assess the biomechanical properties of each construct. A 1-way ANOVA was used to compare the mean differences in construct failure force, cricoarytenoid joint (CAJ) disarticulation force, and energy stored at failure. A 2-sample t-test was used to compare single versus double suture patterns and a Fisher's exact test was used to compare failure mode.
Results— Both construct and CAJ failure force were significantly greater ( P <.05) for double suture patterns compared with single suture patterns; however, there were no significant differences in energy stored at construct failure. Failure at the MP accounted for ≥50% of construct failures for 3 of the single suture patterns and 1 of the double suture patterns tested. The remaining 2 patterns had an increased frequency of clamp failures as well as failure of the cricoid cartilage.
Conclusions— Sutures that sufficiently engage the spine of the MP alone or in conjunction with a second suture were found to be biomechanically superior.
Clinical Relevance— Engaging the spine of the MP appears to result in the most biomechanically sound laryngeal construct.     

An indirect fluorescent antibody test for the rapid detection of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus in tissues

Abstract. An indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test was developed to detect viral antigen in tissue sections prepared from rainbow trout experimentally inoculated with infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV). Specific fluorescence was present in the pancreatic acinar tissue and occurred as brilliant fluorescence throughout the mesentery surrounding the pyloric caeca and intestines. In addition, multiple foci of fluorescent cells were seen occasionally in the kidneys and liver of infected fry. Fluorescence was not observed in tissues other than the pancreas, kidneys, and liver. The IFA test was found to be quite specific and offers a rapid means of diagnosing IPN during acute outbreaks.     

The Effects of Implant Orientation, Canal Fill, and Implant Fit on Femoral Strain Patterns and Implant Stability During Catastrophic Testing of a Canine Cementless Femoral Prosthesis

Cementless femoral stems were placed into 12 normal greyhound femora. The implanted femora were divided into three groups by stem orientation and implant size and loaded in axial compression at a rate of 25 newtons (N) per second until failure. Rosette strain gauges were used to measure femoral principal strains at 500 N, 1,000 N, 1,500 N, and at maximum load. During maximum load, varus orientation of the femoral stem had significantly higher tensile hoop strains in the proximomedial cortex, whereas neutral orientation had higher tensile hoop strains along the cranial cortex. Femoral fractures occurred in these areas of peak tensile strain. There was no difference in maximum load between groups, therefore varus orientation did not predispose to fracture. Maximizing canal fill and implant fit increased implant stability.     

Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD): a pharmacokinetic-based information resource

The Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD) is a pilot project funded through the USDA Extension Service. It represents a major effort to compile into a single source large amounts of information on veterinary pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics and physiochemical properties of drugs and other chemicals used in livestock production. FARAD is a computer-based system consisting of five data and numerous command files that access the data files to facilitate rapid input and retrieval of the desired information. The data files include proprietary information on all pharmaceutical products approved for use in food animals in the United States; physicochemical information on more than 100 chemicals contained in the databank; regulatory information pertaining to tolerance and action levels of chemical residues in animal products and allowable concentrations of drugs in feed; pharmacokinetic rate and volume constants pertinent to residue depletion modeling in a variety of species; bibliographic citations to which all of the information contained in the databank is referenced. All of the information in FARAD is currently available through three regional access centers in the United States, and direct computer access to the data may become available in the future.     

Caudal Approach to the Shoulder Joint in the Dog

A caudal approach to the scapulohumeral joint for treatment of osteochondritis dissecans of the humeral head was performed in seven dogs. By 14 days after surgery, three of the seven dogs were walking normally. At 6 weeks after surgery, all dogs were considered sound. Visualization was adequate for curettage of the osteochondritis dissecans lesions. Access to the medial joint compartment also was afforded.     

Successful surgical removal of an epileptogenic focus in a dog

A case of localized secondary fungal meningo-encephalitis with seizures is presented. The clinical features and the surgical treatment of the case are described. Pre-surgical and post-surgical electroencephalograms and cessation of clinical signs revealed the successful removal of the epileptogenic focus. Some of the diagnostic features of chronic pyelonephritis, as they affect this case, are reported.
Résumé. On décrit un cas de méningo-encéphalite fungoïde, secondaire et localisée, accompagnée d'attaques brusques. On passe en revue les traits cliniques et le traitement chirurgical du cas. Les électro-encéphalograrnmes avant et après l'opération et l'arrêt des signes cliniques ont révélé que le foyer épileptogène a pu être éloigné avec succès. On rapporte certains des éléments diagnostiques de la pyélo-néphrite chronique qui intéressent ce cas.
Zusammenfassung. Ein Fall von lokalisierter sekundärer fungaler Meningoencephalitis mit Anfallen wird beschrieben. Die klinischen Merkmale und die chirurgische Behandlung des Falles werden besprochen. Elektroencephalogramme vor und nach der chirurgische Behandlung. Und das Verschwinden der klinischen Merkmale zeigten die erfolgreiche Entfernung des epileptogenen Focus. Einige der diagnostischen Merkmale chronischer Pyelonephritis, welche von Bedeutung für diesen Fall waren, werden angegeben.     

Chemical control of marsh ragwort (Senecio aquaticus Huds.) in established grassland

Infestations of marsh ragwort, Senecio aquaticus Huds., in established ley grassland were sprayed at the rosette stage in April or May with MCPA, 2,4-D, asulam or a 2,4-D asulam mixture. All treatments gave better control in the year after spraying than in the year of spraying. The most effective herbicide was 2,4-D ester at 1–68 or 1–12 kg/ha with or without the incorporation of asulam at 1–12 kg/ha. MCPA at 1–68 kg/ha was less effective, especially in the year of spraying and asulam alone at 1-12 kg/ha gave consistently the poorest control of all treatments. Spraying in May gave better control in the year of spraying than April application, but in the year after spraying date of application made no difference to the degree of control. S. aquaticus at the various sites differed in general susceptibility to herbicides in the year of spraying, but in the year after spraying these differences disappeared.