Abdominal Wall Reconstruction with a Vascular External Abdominal Oblique Myofascial Flap

A myofascial island flap for abdominal wall reconstruction was based on the lumbar component of the external abdominal oblique muscle and supplied by a major neurovascular pedicle consisting of branches of the cranial abdominal artery, cranial hypogastric nerve, and a satellite vein. The flap was elevated and sutured into a 10 cm x 10 cm body wall defect in five dogs. The dogs were observed for 26 to 28 days. Abdominal wall contour and function were preserved. All dogs developed seromas, two of which became infected. One dog developed a hernia at the dorsal margin of the flap, which was repaired. At necropsy, there was no evidence of dehiscence in any of the dogs. Loose adhesions of omentum to the inner surface of the flap occurred in four dogs. Results of histologic examination confirmed the clinical impression of flap viability. The myofascial island flap has a wide range of mobility over the ventral and caudal areas of the abdomen and lateral thoracic wall. It has potential clinical use for reconstruction of defects within its arc of rotation.     

Evaluation of an electronic device used as a quick screening method to detect changes in the red cell content of the blood in horses participating in endurance trail rides

Dehydration, to varying degrees, will inevitably occur in horses participating in endurance trail rides. This water loss is directly related to the amount of body water lost through evaporative cooling, that in turn being related to the amount and rate of work performed, and to the environmental temperature and humidity.An electronic apparatus that can substitute for the conventional and time-consuming venous haematocrit was developed to measure the animals' hydration status. The mechanism of this electrometer is based upon the relationship between the red cell content and the electrical conductivity of the blood. The electrometer reading gave a significant correlation (p<0.001) with the venous haematocrit, thus indicating that the electrometer is a reliable apparatus for determining the animals' hydration status within seconds of venepuncture.     

A Comparison of Surgical Training with Live Anesthetized Dogs and Cadavers

Cadavers were compared with live anesthetized dogs for their effectiveness as models for surgical training of veterinary medical students. One group of students was trained using cadavers, and a peer group was trained using live anesthetized dogs. Both groups then performed an intestinal anastomosis using a live subject. The time to completion of the procedure was recorded. The anastomoses and celiotomy closures were evaluated. Each anastomosis was isolated and pressure tested. Reviewers blindly scored each surgical team's performance based on actual inspection of the surgical site and on viewing videotapes of the procedure. The participants' attitudes toward the use of live animals in teaching and research were documented before and after training. No statistically significant differences could be detected between the two groups. The results suggest that some substitution of cadavers for live dogs in surgical training might be feasible.     

A Comparison of Injectable Anesthetic Combinations in Horses

Six combinations of injectable anesthetic agents were administered to six adult horses in a Latin square design. The drug combinations were xylazine-ketamine, xylazine-butorphanol-ketamine, xylazine-tiletamine-zolazepam, xylazine-butorphanol-tiletamine-zolazepam, detomidine-ketamine, and detomidine-butorphanol-ketamine. Measured variables were heart rate, respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure, arterial pH (pHa), PaCO2, PaO2, recumbency time, and number of attempts necessary to stand. Quality of induction and recovery, muscle relaxation, and response to stimulus were evaluated subjectively. The horses required significantly more attempts to stand after administration of xylazine-tiletamine-zolazepam, xylazine-butorphanol-tiletamine-zolazepam, and detomidine-ketamine than after xylazine-ketamine, xylazine-butorphanol-ketamine, or detomidine-butorphanol-ketamine. Mean recumbency times varied from 23.0 minutes with xylazine-ketamine to 41.3 minutes with xylazine-butorphanol-tiletamine-zolazepam. There were significant differences in mean heart rates at minute 15, mean respiratory rates at minutes 5, 10 and 15, and mean systolic blood pressures at minute 10 of anesthesia. There were no significant differences in pHa, PaCO2 or PaO2.     

Intracavitary Cisplatin Chemotherapy Experience with Six Dogs

Six dogs with a median age of 7 years (range = 5-14 years) were presented for signs referable to thoracic or abdominal effusion associated with neoplasia of the body cavities. Intracavitary cisplatin was administered at 50 mg/m2 every 4 weeks for a median of 2.5 treatments (mean = 3, range = 1-6). Three dogs with pleural mesothelioma had complete resolution of effusion for 289, 129, and greater than 306 days without evidence of tumor growth. Resolution of effusion occurred after one treatment in two dogs and after two treatments in one dog. In three dogs with carcinomatosis of unknown origin, complete responses was seen in two dogs after one treatment for 255 and greater than 807 days, respectively. Intracavitary chemotherapy with cisplatin was associated with palliation and control of malignant pleural and/or abdominal effusion in five of six dogs. Toxicity was minimal, and this method of therapy should be further explored in dogs with similar malignancies.     

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FEATURES OF MULTILOBULAR OSTEOCHONDROSARCOMA IN 3 DOGS

Three dogs with multilobular osteochondrosarcoma of the skull were evaluated using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Spin echo T1, T2, proton weighted and post contrast T1W images were obtained with a 1.5 Tesla magnet. The MR imaging findings were similar in all three dogs with mixed signal intensities in the T1W, T2W and proton weighted images and fairly large areas of contrast enhancement in the post contrast T1W images. The extent of brain and soft tissue involvement were well delineated and provided useful information concerning surgical planning. MR imaging provided a useful method of evaluating dogs with skull tumors.     

A Comparison of Arterial and Lingual Venous Blood Gases in Anethetized Dogs

The purpose of this study was to determine whether lingual vanous blood gas samples reflect arterial acid-base gas status in anethetized dogs. Heparinized blood samples were drawn simultaneously from the lingual vein and a peripheral artery in 50 anestheized dogs that were clinical surgical patients, as well as from four experimental dogs in which hemorrahaic shock was being studied. Blood pH, oxygen tension (PO₂), and bicarbonate (HCO_3-)) from the two sources in clinical patients showed significant liner correlation, although arterial PO₂)(PaO₂)) tended to be approximately 110mm Hg higher than lingual venous PO₂). During hemorrahgic shock, however, PaO₂) and PaCO₂) were significantly different from lingual venous PO₂) and PCO₂), Lingula venous blood gas analysis may be useful in assessing acid-base and blood gas status in routline cases, but should not be relied upon in dogs with low cardiac output or poor perfusion.     

Intraperitoneal Circulation and Drainage in the Dog

The patterns of dispersion and drainage of a low viscosity, oil-based contrast medium within the peritoneal cavity were examined in 12 normal dogs. Intraperitoneal injection of contrast medium was cranial or caudal and drainage was by the sump-Penrose or open peritoneal method. Radiographs were made over a 96 hour period, before and after peritoneal drainage was established. Each dog was euthanatized and necropsied. The contrast medium was dispersed throughout the peritoneal cavity 15 to 30 minutes after cranial injection and 1 to 2 hours after caudal injection. Most of the contrast medium drained within 6 hours after open peritoneal drainage and within 24 to 48 hours after sump-Penrose drainage. At necropsy, there was complete encasement of all sump-Penrose drains and partial occlusion of all open peritoneal incisions by omentum adhered to the abdominal wound edges. Peritonitis was not grossly evident, but all dogs showed histologic evidence of an acute inflammatory reaction associated with the drain or wound edge.     

Incidence of Salmonellae in Captive and Wild Free‐Living Raptorial Birds in Central Spain

A total of 595 faecal samples from raptorial birds, either captive or free‐living, residing in GREFA Wildlife Hospital were bacteriologically examined using various selective media and an Automated Diagnostic Assay System for Salmonella detection. Serotype and phage type of the strains identified as Salmonella was determined. In the captive group, of the 285 samples examined, 21 (7.36%) were positive for Salmonella. Serotyping revealed that most of the individuals were infected by Salmonella serotype Havana. This result suggested that there could be a source of contamination in the Hospital although it could not be established. In the wild free‐living group, over 310 samples examined (4.19%) were positive for Salmonella. The Salmonella isolates showed a major variety of serotypes: Enteritidis, Adelaide, Brandenburg, Newport, Typhimurium, Hadar, Saintpaul and Virchow. Most of them are similar to those commonly described in isolates from human and domestic animals. These results indicate that wild birds could be involved in the dissemination of Salmonella in humans or domestic animals or vice versa.