Nasal Septoplasty for Correction of Septal Deviation in a Foal

Objective — This article reports an alternative to septal resection in nasal septal deviations involving the rostral 7 to 10 cm of the nasal septum.
Study Design — Case report.
Sample Population — One client-owned foal.
Methods — A nasal approach with mucosal elevation was used to gain access to the cartilaginous portion of the nasal septum. Once exposed, a series of parasagittal incisions in the cartilage allowed the septum to be repositioned while providing some intrinsic stabilization.
Results — The nasal approach provided good access to the rostral 7 cm of the nasal septum. The technique resulted in minimal hemorrhage from the site. Bleeding was reduced with the use of ephedrine to vasoconstrict the mucosal vessels, and primary closure of the mucosa.
Conclusions — Use of an intrinsically stabilized septoplasty should be considered as a means of decreasing the airway obstruction caused by nasal septal deviation in foals while allowing for normal development of facial contour.     

Partial or Total Hemipelvectomy in the Management of Sarcomas in Nine Dogs and Two Cats

The functional results of partial or total hemipelvectomy in seven dogs and two cats with sarcomas involving the pelvis were excellent, and the cosmetic outcome was acceptable to all owners. Tumors in two dogs were inoperable. Locally recurrent cancer occurred in two animals and metastases occurred in three animals. Three dogs survived longer than 2.5 years and the overall and disease-free survival at 12 months was 62%. It appears that osteosarcoma of the pelvis is at least as aggressive as osteosarcoma of limbs and, unless effective adjuvant therapy is used, poorer survival results are likely in dogs with osteosarcoma than with other sarcomas of the pelvis. Hemipelvectomy is an aggressive surgical procedure that can be used successfully in selected dogs and cats with cancer involving the pelvis.     

Evaluation of the Palmaz Stent in the Trachea and Mainstem Bronchi of Normal Dogs

Objective — This study evaluates the efficacy of the Palmaz balloon expandable intraluminal stent in the trachea and mainstem bronchi of normal dogs. Study Design — Effects of the stent were evaluated by physical examination, thoracic radiography, respiratory tract fluoroscopy and endoscopy, tracheal diameter measurement, postmortem examination, and airway histomorphometry. Animals or Sample Population — Ten normal beagle dogs. Methods — Stent size was estimated from thoracic radiographs in awake dogs. Group I dogs (n = 4) had two stents placed: one in the thoracic trachea (TT) plus a randomly chosen mainstem bronchus (MB). Group II dogs (n = 3) had stents placed in the MB (one stent), TT (one stent), and mid- or proximal cervical trachea (CT) (one or two stents). Three dogs were used as sham-operated controls (group III). Temperature, pulse, respiration, and cough were measured twice daily. Dogs were evaluated at 21 and 49 to 56 days after stent placement, euthanatized, and tissues were collected for histomorphometric analysis of stent integration and epithelial pathology. Results — Mean tracheal diameters of awake (10.5 ±1.7 mm) and anesthetized dogs before stent implantation (13.9 ± 2.0 mm) were significantly different (P <.01). Complications associated with stent placement included acute pulmonary edema (n = 2), stent migration (n = 7), stent collapse (n = 4 CT, 2 TT, and 1 MB), and positive tracheal culture (n = 10). Group II dogs coughed more at rest, exercise, and with tracheal palpation than dogs in other groups (P <.01). Group I dogs coughed more at rest than group III dogs (P <.01). Stent integration ranged from 0 to 91.3%. Squamous metaplasia and epithelial ulceration associated with stents ranged from 0 to 57.5% and 0 to 32.7%, respectively. Conclusions — Determination of stent size should be based on measurements taken on anesthetized dogs because use of inappropriately sized stents may promote stent migration, squamous metaplasia, and/or ulceration. Epithelialization over stent struts may occur if the stent is closely associated with tracheal epithelium. Clinical Relevance — Palmaz stents do not appear to be appropriate for placement in the CT of dogs; however, with technical modifications, application in the TT and MB may be feasible.     

Systemic and Local Effects Associated With Long-Term Epidural Catheterization and Morphine-Detomidine Administration in Horses

Objective — The purpose of this study was to determine the systemic and local effects associated with long-term epidural catheterization and epidural morphine-detomidine administration in horses. Study Design — Development of systemic or local effects was assessed by placing caudal epidural catheters in study horses and administering injections through the catheters every 12 hours for 14 days. Animals — Ten horses with epidural catheters that received daily injections; six uncatheterized horses presented for euthanasia. Methods — Horses received either 0.2 mg/kg morphine sulfate and 30 μg/kg detomidine hydrochloride or an equivalent volume of physiologic saline solution through epidural catheters. Systemic effects were compared between control and treatment horses by measuring physical parameters and hay and water consumption, as well as by evaluating major organs after euthanasia. Local effects were studied by examining cerebrospinal fluid and by grading representative samples of the spinal cord and surrounding tissues histologically for inflammation and fibrosis. Local effects were compared between control and treatment horses, as well as between catheter-ized (control plus treatment) horses and uncatheterized horses. Results — No significant difference was identified in daily variables or hay and water consumption between control and treatment horses. No growth was obtained from cerebrospinal fluid cultures. No significant difference in cerebrospinal fluid values or spinal tissue inflammation or fibrosis grades was shown between control and treatment horses. However, when compared with uncatheterized horses, cerebrospinal fluid red blood cell values were marginally higher and protein concentrations were significantly higher in the catheterized group. Lumbosacral and sacral spinal tissue segment inflammation grades, and sacral segment fibrosis grades were significantly higher in catheterized horses. Conclusions — Long-term epidural administration of a morphine-detomidine combination is not associated with apparent adverse systemic effects in horses. Localized inflammation and fibrosis seem to be catheter-related. Clinical Relevance — Potential systemic and local effects are important considerations with long-term administration of a morphine-detomidine combination through indwelling epidural catheters for alleviation of chronic musculoskeletal pain in horses.     

Results of Screw/Wire/Polymethylmethacrylate Composite Fixation for Acetabular Fracture Repair in 14 Dogs

Objective- To assess the clinical results in dogs with acetabular fractures stabilized using a screw-wire-polymethylmethacrylate (SWP) composite fixation.
Study Design- A retrospective study of client-owned dogs with acetabular fractures.
Animals- Fourteen dogs ranging in age from 4 to 95 months (mean, 34 ±25 months; median, 25 months) and body weight from 8 to 39 kg (mean, 25 ±6 kg; median, 27 kg).
Methods- Medical records and radiographs were retrospectively evaluated to determine location of the fracture, presence of preexisting degenerative joint disease, accuracy of fracture reduction and complications associated with surgery. Long-term results were evaluated by subjective assessment of lameness, elicitation of pain and/or crepitus on manipulation of the coxofemoral joint, measurements of pelvic limb circumference, coxofemoral joint goniometric measurements, and radiographic evaluation.
Results- Fracture reduction was considered anatomic in 13 dogs. At the time of the last follow-up evaluation (mean, 347 ±261 days; median, 380 days) 10 dogs were sound on the affected limb, three dogs had a subtle weight-bearing lameness of the affected limb, and the remaining dog had a consistent non-weight-bearing lameness of the affected limb. Mild (n = 10) or moderate (n = 1) degenerative changes of the affected coxofemoral joint attributed to the acetabular fracture and its repair were noted on the follow-up radiographs in 11 dogs. Limb circumference of the affected limb ranged from -8.2% to +10.8% (mean, -0.8 ±4.2%; median, -0.7%) of the contralateral limb.
Conclusions- The SWP composite fixation consistently maintained anatomic reduction, was associated with few complications, and yielded satisfactory clinical results.
Clinical Relevance- The SWP composite fixation technique would seem to be an acceptable means of stabilizing acetabular fractures in dogs.     

Effect of Ketorolac Tromethamine on Atracurium-Induced Neuromuscular Blockade in Anesthetized Dogs

Objective —The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of ketorolac tromethamine or placebo on the neuromuscular blockade induced by an infusion of atracurium in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs. Design —Randomized, controlled trial. Animals —Six healthy, adult mixed-breed dogs (five female, one male) weighing 24.8 ± 2.8 kg. Methods —Dogs were studied on two occasions with a minimum of 7 days between studies. Dogs were induced with 5% isoflurane in oxygen and maintained with 1.6 ± minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) end-tidal isoflurane. Neuromuscular blockade was assessed using the train of-four response. Once 50% depression of the first twitch (T₁) was achieved, the atracurium infusion rate was held constant for 30 minutes. Then ketorolac, 0.5 mg/kg, or the same volume of placebo (0.9% sodium chloride solution) was administered intravenously and the atracurium infusion maintained for an additional 60 minutes. Before and at 2, 5, 10, 15, 30, and 60 minutes after ketorolac or placebo, the percent depression of T₁ and the fourth twitch to the first twitch (T₄/T₁) ratio were recorded. The atracurium infusion was discontinued and the time for T₁ to recover from 50% to 75% of its original value was recorded. At 75% T₁, edrophonium, 0.5 mg/kg intravenously, was administered to antagonize the residual blockade. Results —There was no significant difference in T₁%, T₄/T₁ ratio, or recovery time after ketorolac administration compared with placebo. Conclusions —Ketorolac, 0.5 mg/kg intravenously, has no significant effect on either atracuriuminduced neuromuscular blockade or recovery time for T₁ in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs. Clinical Relevance —The concurrent use of atracurium should not be a contraindication for the administration of ketorolac for intraoperative or postoperative analgesia.     

Comparison of a Biofragmentable Intestinal Anastomosis Ring With Appositional Suturing for Subtotal Colectomy in Normal Cats

A subtotal colectomy was performed on 12 normal adult cats using an interrupted apposing suture pattern of monofilament polyglyconate (n = 6) or a biofragmentable intestinal anastomosis ring (Valtrac, Davis and Geek Company, Danbury, CT) (n = 6) composed of polyglycolic acid and barium sulfate. Abdominal radiographs were made daily, beginning 10 days after surgery, to determine fragmentation rates of the anastomosis ring. The cats were euthanatized 30 days after surgery, and a gross and histopathological evaluation of anastomotic healing and stricture formation was performed. The technique for implantation of the anastomosis ring was easy to learn and required only two purse string sutures to complete. Intraoperative complications associated with the anastomosis ring were minor, and included problems with purse string suture placement, small serosal tears, and spasms of the colon that reduced the lumenal diameter. There were no intraoperative complications in the cats with sutured anastomoses. Postoperative recovery was uneventful in all cats. The anastomosis rings fragmented 12.2 ± 1.1 days (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) after implantation and passed in the stool 3.8 ± 1.9 days later without clinical signs in five of six cats. There were no statistically significant differences between the time required to perform the anastomosis ( P = .348), postmortem gross anastomosis grades ( P = .088), or percent of lumenal stricture ( P = .178) between the two groups. Histologically, the only significant differences were an increased muscular inversion in the anastomoses performed using the fragmentable ring ( P = .039) and an increased muscular eversion in the sutured anastomoses ( P < .001) compared with normal colonic architecture.