Transesophageal monitoring of aortic blood flow during nonemergent canine surgeries

Objective: To establish baseline values for descending thoracic aortic blood flow parameters as determined with a transesophageal combined M‐mode and pulsed Doppler ultrasound‐based monitoring method. Design: Preliminary observational study. Setting: University small animal teaching hospital. Animals: The study population consisted of anesthetized canine patients undergoing nonemergent surgeries. Prospectively set criteria for inclusion were adequate body size for placement of the esophageal probe and a nonemergent reason for surgery. The criterion for exclusion was recent trauma. Interventions: Placement of the transesophageal probe. Measurements and main results: Data was collected during 15 surgeries. Data from three dogs was excluded from data analysis (two recently hit by motor vehicles, one recently having undergone a total hip replacement). Each parameter was stable across time within each individual dog. The ranges of the descending thoracic aortic parameters across the 12 nonemergent cases were as follows: blood flow, 0.038–0.085 L min^?1 kg^?1; blood flow per beat, 0.31–0.84 mL kg^?1; blood acceleration, 6–29 m s^2?1; blood peak velocity, 38–105 m s^?1; left ventricular ejection time interval 331–492 ms; and diameter, 0.30–0.93 mm kg^?1. Conclusions: The range of descending thoracic aortic blood flow parameters encountered in this small group of dogs during nonemergent surgeries was broad; however, each parameter was quite stable across time with little change occurring in any dog during monitoring.     

Postanesthetic Pulmonary Edema In an Arab Stallion

A six-year-old arabian stallion was admitted to The Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital for evaluation and repair of a comminuted fracture of the second phalanx. The horse developed impaired arterial oxygenation during surgey and pulmonary edema post-operatively. We postulate that impaired arterial oxygenation resulted from atelectasis of the dependent lung during annesthesia, and the pulmonary edema occurred following re-expansion of the atelectatic of the initiating cause of the edema, removal of excess lung water from the alveoli, and restoration of normal arterial oxygenation. The horse was fully recovered within 12 hours of initiation of clinical signs of respiratory compromise. The horse was fully recovered within 12 hours of initiation of clinical signs of respiratory compromise. This report describes re-expansion pulmonary edema due to reperfusion injury in a horse, treatment of the condition, and a possible explanation of the pathogenesis of this pulmonary pathology.     

Relating Kirtland's warbler population to changing landscape composition and structure

The population of male Kirtland's warbler (Dendroica kirtlandii) in the breeding season has averaged 206 from 1971 to 1987. The Kirtland's warbler occupies dense jack pine (Pinus banksiana) barrens from 5 to 23 years old and from 1.4 to 5.0 m high, formerly of wildfire origin. In 1984, 73% of the males censused were found in habitat naturally regenerated from wildfire or prescribed burning. The rest were in plantations (11%) or in harvested, unburned jack pine stands stocked by natural regeneration (16%). Twenty-two percent (630 of 2,886) of the Kirtland's warbler males counted in the annual censuses from 1971 through 1984 were found in 26 stands that were unburned and naturally regenerated following harvest. From 1982 to 1987, suitable regenerating areas were barely sufficient to replace currently occupied maturing stands, so population growth was impeded. Ecosystems of suitable size and regeneration characteristics (wildfire and plantation) doubled in area by 1989. In response, the population of Kirtland's warblers increased from 167 to 398 males between 1987 and 1992, but they withdrew almost entirely from the unburned, unplanted barrens by 1989 when the area of more suitable regeneration types increased. Minimum (368 males) and maximum (542 males) population estimates for 1996 were calculated based on 1984 average density (1.9 males per 40 ha) and peak population in burns (2.8 males per 40 ha).     

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.     

ULTRASONOGRAPHY OF ALIMENTARY LYMPHOSARCOMA IN THE CAT

Clinical, radiological and ultrasonographic findings from 22 cats with gastrointestinal lymphosarcoma were reviewed. The most common clinical findings were anorexia, weight loss, vomiting, lethargy, depression, fever, anemia and a palpable abdominal mass. Abdominal radiographs of 12 cats revealed a mass associated with the gastrointestinal tract and/or mesentery, and decreased serosal detail, suggestive of peritoneal effusion. The most common ultrasonographic finding was transmural gastric or intestinal thickening associated with loss of normal wall layering, reduced wall echogenicity and localized hypomotility. As is noted in people, other patterns such as transmural-segmental, transmural-nodular, transmural-bulky and mucosal infiltration were represented. In 3 cats, mesenteric lymph-adenopathy was responsible for most of the mass-effect. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy, automated microcore biopsy, endoscopic biopsy or necropsy confirmed the diagnosis of lymphosarcoma in all cats. Chemotherapy was instituted in 19 cats. Only 6 cats had a complete response to treatment. The results of this study indicate that ultrasonography is a valuable tool for the diagnosis of feline alimentary lymphosarcoma and that biopsies can be obtained under ultrasonographic guidance.     

Suspected Tension Pneumomediastinum In A Dog: A Case Report

Successful resuscitation of a trauma-induced, suspected tension pneumomediastinum in a dog is presented. The cause was a caudal cervical penetration wound which acted as a one-way valve allowing air to enter, but not exit, the cranial mediastium. Early in the course of hospitalization, respiratory and cardiovascular collapse occurred; an emergent parasternotomy allowed decompression of the mediastinum, and the cradiovascular system immediately responded. The dog made a complete recovery following surgical exploration and removal of contaminated mediastinal tissue. Nine days of intensive care included 24-hour monitoring, oxygen therapy, intravenous crystalloids and colloids, continuous pleural suctioning, nutritional support, antibiotics, and pain control.     

Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry and Force-Plate Analysis of Gait in Dogs With Healed Femora After Leg-Lengthening Plate Fixation

Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry was used to measure bone mineral density of four regions in healed femora of nine dogs after fracture fixation with a leg-lengthening plate. Six to 85 months (mean, 46 months) after surgery, the bone mineral density of healed femora was not significantly different from the contralateral uninjured femora ( P >.05; power = 0.8 at Δ= 15%). Radio-lucencies around the proximal screws, apparently associated with screw loosening, were seen on radiographic views of the healed femora of three dogs. In one of these dogs, one screw in the proximal metaphysis had broken. Force-plate analysis of gait was also performed on dogs at the time of bone mineral density measurement. Peak vertical force was decreased in the pelvic limb with the healed fracture compared with the contralateral unoperated limb ( P < 0.05). Clinically apparent lameness in three dogs did not appear to be associated with altered bone mineral density and may have been caused by hip osteoarthritis, a nondisplaced hairline diaphyseal fracture, and screw loosening in conjunction with extensive post-traumatic soft tissue injury.     

Evaluation of Tissue Adhesive to Contain Axonal Regeneration in Horses

Bilateral palmar and plantar digital neurectomies were completed in 10 horses (a total of 80 neurectomies) using one of three methods: (1) simple transection (guillotine method); (2) epineural capping; (3) n-butyl cyanoacrylate injected into the epineural sheath to act as a nerve sealant. Horses were regularly evaluated clinically for tenderness in and around the surgical site, as well as skin sensation at the coronary band in the heel region, during the 12-week course of the study. None of the surgical sites exhibited any signs of drainage or infection. Horses were then euthanatized, the nerve stumps were dissected from surrounding tissues, and the length and width of the tissue mass that had formed on the end of the nerve was recorded. Longitudinal and transverse sections of the nerve endings were examined histologically for numbers of proliferating axon sprouts (neuroma formation); whether the axons had penetrated the epineurium; degree of Schwann cell proliferation; degree of chronic inflammation; extent of foreign body reaction; extent of retrograde degeneration of the nerve bundles; and amount of fibro vascular proliferation. The proportion of legs exhibiting tenderness or heel sensation did not differ significantly between the three different treatments at any of the six different times they were examined. There was no difference between the three treatments in the length or width of the fibrous tissue scar on the ends of the nerves or in the number of sprouting axons from the ends of the nerves. Of 80 nerves examined, only two nerves were not confined to the epineurium. Both these nerves had been treated by simple transection. Statistically there was more chronic inflammation and foreign body reaction in the acrylic treated nerves, but no difference in Schwann cell proliferation or retrograde degeneration between the three treatments. There was slightly less fibrovascular proliferation in the transected nerves than in those subjected to epineural capping or acrylic, but the difference was not statistically significant. The use of the tissue adhesive n-butyl cyanoacrylate to prevent the continuous growth of axons after digital neurectomy seems to offer little advantage over more traditional methods of neurectomy.     

Use of 64Copper Measurements to Diagnose Canine Copper Toxicosis

Inherited canine copper toxicosis is a serious problem in Bedlington terriers and West Highland White terriers, and may also be a problem in other less-studied breeds. Affected dogs become ill at midlife with progressive and ultimately fatal liver disease. Treatments for removal of copper and prevention of copper accumulation are available, but are most effective if begun before the dog becomes ill. Until recently diagnosis has not been available until the dog is 1 year of age, and then only by an invasive liver biopsy with determination of liver copper concentration. The authors studied the use of 64copper for early diagnosis of canine copper toxicosis. Two procedures were evaluated. The first involved measuring the concentration of 64copper in blood 24 hours after oral administration of the radioisotope. At this time, 64copper was associated primarily with ceruloplasmin secreted into the blood by the liver. This procedure is useful in the diagnosis of the human counterpart, Wilson's disease. However, the authors found it to be nondiscriminatory between affected and unaffected dogs. In contrast, the second procedure, which involved measuring 64copper excreted in stool during 48 hours after an intravenous dose of radioisotope, yielded results that differentiated most affected and unaffected dogs.