Equine Post-anesthetic Lameness A Retrospective Study

The incidence of post-anesthetic lameness in 655 horses undergoing 733 anesthetic episodes over a 3 year period was 6.4%. Nineteen factors previously reported or proposed to play a role in the development of post-anesthetic lameness were evaluated statistically. Only hypotension and the duration of the anesthetic period were significant factors.     

Measurement of Muscle Surface Capillary Blood Flow by Laser Doppler Flowmetry

Muscle surface capillary blood flow was measured in the biceps femoris and lateral head of the triceps brachii muscles in six horses before and during halothane anesthesia by using laser Doppler flowmetry. During 90 minutes of anesthesia, muscle surface capillary blood flow was reduced to 20% to 40% of preanesthetic values. Muscle surface capillary blood flow tended to be lower in dependent muscles than in nondependent muscles, and this disparity was greater in the forelimbs than in the hind limbs.     

Connectivity of lobster (Homarus americanus) populations in the coastal Gulf of Maine: part II. Coupled biophysical dynamics

We used a coupled biophysical model to investigate larval transport and connectivity patterns in the Gulf of Maine lobster ( Homarus americanus ) population. Biological 'particles' were released at over 21 000 locations every 10 days over a 4-month hatching period, and were followed from hatching through late postlarval stage. In addition to circulation and dispersion, model calculations included spatial patterns of egg production, temporal patterns of hatching, temperature-dependent development, vertical distribution and mortality. We ran the model for three larval production seasons using the same hatching patterns and individual-based modeling parameters but different flow patterns in the coastal current system. Model results gave distribution and abundance patterns of competent postlarvae that closely resembled observed, alongshore patterns of lobster settlement density. We evaluated the relative contribution of all source regions to the total number of competent postlarvae in a series of medium-size zones along the coastal shelf, many of which are used in lobster management. Connectivity depended on many factors, including patterns of egg production and transport, and the location and size of the receiving zones. Self recruitment ranged from a few percent to >90% of competent postlarvae. Although it was common for postlarvae to come from many, often distant, sources, most of the competent postlarvae in a zone originated within one to two zones in the prevailing 'up-stream' direction, forming shorter connections along the coast than the energetic currents might otherwise suggest. Inshore migrations during summer hatching may contribute to these shorter patterns of connectivity. Transport in the prevailing 'upstream' direction was also indicated.     

Omentum-Enhanced Reconstruction of Chronic Nonhealing Wounds in Cats: Techniques and Clinical Use

The greater omentum was used to aid in the reconstruction of nonhealing wounds in five cats. In each cat the cause of the nonhealing wound could not be determined. A vascular omental pedicle was created at laparotomy by dividing the dorsal leaf of the omentum at its pancreatic attachments (four cats) or by dividing the ventral leaf at its gastric attachments (one cat). The pedicle was then passed through either the ventral or lateral body wall into the nonhealing wound via a subcutaneous tunnel. The wounds were closed over the omentum after local tissue mobilization. All the wounds healed uneventfully and have remained healed with a mean follow-up period of 2.5 years. Complications included intestinal herniation through a ventral midline exit hole (one cat), presumed abdominal fat herniation through a ventral abdominal exit hole (one cat) and seroma formation (one cat). All of the complications were treated successfully. The omentum should be considered a useful adjunct in the treatment of nonhealing wounds in cats.     

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC IMAGING PROTOCOL FOR THE CANINE CERVICAL AND LUMBAR SPINE

Computed tomography (CT) has been applied previously for assessment of canine spinal disease using a multitude of different technical imaging parameters. The purpose of this study was to establish an optimized imaging protocol for the cervical and lumbar canine spine using a single-detector-row helical CT unit. Thin slice thickness (1–2 mm), low pitch (axial scan mode, helical pitch <2), and medium-frequency image reconstruction algorithm significantly improved the visibility of the intervertebral disk and spinal cord. Tube current, helical reconstruction interval, and the use of an additional edge enhancement filter had no significant effect on the visibility of the intervertebral disk and spinal cord. There was also no interaction between the use of an additional edge enhancement filter and image reconstruction algorithm. Use of an additional edge enhancement filter introduced a double ring artifact in the periphery of the spinal canal lumen that did not correspond to the spinal cord or pachymeningeal margin.     

PUPPY LINE, METAPHYSEAL SCLEROSIS, AND CAUDOLATERAL CURVILINEAR AND CIRCUMFERENTIAL FEMORAL HEAD OSTEOPHYTES IN EARLY DETECTION OF CANINE HIP DYSPLASIA

Ventrodorsal extended hip radiographs were analyzed from Foxhounds, Irish setters, Greyhounds, and Labrador retrievers radiographed four to seven times between 8 and 110 weeks of age. Occurrence in these 91 dogs of a puppy line, an ill-defined zone of proximal femoral metaphyseal sclerosis, a femoral neck linear sclerosis, or circumferential linear femoral head osteophytosis at 15–17 weeks of age were compared with hip joint laxity, as measured by distraction index, and to later findings of caudal curvilinear femoral neck osteophytes, circumferential femoral head osteophytes, hip incongruity consistent with hip dysplasia and degenerative joint disease by 52 weeks of age. A puppy line and/or femoral metaphyseal sclerosis was common at 15–17 weeks of age for dogs at mimimal risk (Greyhounds) and high risk (Foxhounds) of developing early degenerative joint disease associated with canine hip dysplasia. Though 44% of Greyhound hips had puppy lines and 28% had femoral metaphyseal sclerosis at 15–17 weeks of age, no Greyhound had a caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte or circumferential femoral head osteophyte at 24–27 or 52 weeks of age. No significant relationship was found between occurrence of a puppy line, a circumferential femoral head osteophyte or femoral metaphyseal sclerosis at 15–17 weeks and canine hip dysplasia or degenerative joint disease incidence at 42–52 weeks. Presence of a caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte in at least one hip at 24–27 weeks was significantly related to the diagnosis of canine hip dysplasia by 42–52 weeks. When both a caudolateral curvilinear osteophyte and a circumferential femoral head osteophyte were present in a hip at 24–27 weeks, degenerative joint disease was evident in all such hips by 42–52 weeks of age.     

Retroversion of the Epiglottis as a Complication of Endotracheal Intubation in the Horse A Pilot Study

As part of a study of possible causes of postoperative pulmonary complications of general anesthesia in the horse, lateral cervical radiographs were taken after endotracheal intubation in nine randomly selected horses. The epiglottis was found to be retroverted in three. Subsequently, the effects of epiglottic retroversion during anesthesia on postoperative laryngeal function were investigated experimentally in three horses by fluoroscopy. No untoward sequelae were observed. Prophylaxis and potential adverse effects of this previously unreported complication of endotracheal intubation in the horse are discussed.