Retrospective evaluation of the use of small-bore wire-guided catheters for the management of peritoneal effusion in cats and dogs

Objective

To describe the use of small-bore wire-guided catheters in the management of peritoneal effusion in cats and dogs and to detail any associated adverse events.

Design

Retrospective study.

Setting

University teaching hospital

Animals

Forty-five client-owned animals that had peritoneal catheters placed for management of peritoneal effusion between July 2010 and June 2021.

Interventions

None.

Measurements and Main Results

Forty-five cases were included (25 dogs and 20 cats). Twenty-eight animals had the catheter placed to aid management of a uroabdomen, 8 of which recovered without surgical management, 11 had the catheter placed to allow autotransfusion of hemoabdomen, 3 had peritonitis, and 3 had ascites secondary to cardiac disease. Twenty-seven cases (15 dogs and 12 cats) received sedation (n = 24) or local anesthesia alone (n = 3) to facilitate catheter placement, and 6 cases had the catheter placed while under general anesthesia. Median length of catheter persistence was 24 hours (range: 2–144 h). The most common adverse events reported were impaired drainage (n = 7) and leakage at the insertion site (n = 4).

Conclusions

Peritoneal catheters can be inserted percutaneously for management of peritoneal effusion. Indications include stabilization and conservative management of uroabdomen, and autotransfusion. They can often be placed with minimal or no sedation and adverse events appear infrequent in occurrence.     

Evaluation of hemostatic derangements associated with canine anaphylaxis and the relationship to syndrome severity

Objective

To describe hemostatic derangements associated with canine anaphylaxis and to assess for association with syndrome severity.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting

University teaching hospital.

Animals

Twenty-seven client-owned dogs, recruited from November 2018 to January 2022, diagnosed with anaphylaxis of varying severity were included. Study inclusion required presentation <6 hours after initiation of clinical signs, no medications or history of illness within the prior 2 weeks, lack of comorbidities expected to affect hemostasis, and lack of a disease state that could alternatively explain the clinical presentation.

Interventions

Blood samples were collected within the first hour of presentation for CBC, serum biochemistry, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and viscoelastic coagulation testing for use with a cartridge-based point-of-care device.

Measurements and main results

Clotting time and clot formation time were prolonged, alpha angle and maximum clot firmness were decreased, PT and aPTT were prolonged, and platelet counts were lower in severe cases compared to mild and moderate cases. There were no differences for any parameter between mild and moderate cases. The presence or absence of abdominal effusion was not associated with hemostatic status.

Conclusions

Global hemostatic derangements consistent with hypocoagulability are a prominent feature of severe anaphylaxis in dogs and should be considered for routine evaluation.