Postoperative integrity of veterinary surgical gloves

A multicenter, prospective study was performed to document the incidence of defective gloves postoperatively in veterinary surgery and to correlate defects with a variety of influencing factors. Gloves were collected after surgical procedures performed by the small animal clinical services at two veterinary teaching hospitals and one institution's student surgery laboratories. Gloves were evaluated for defects using electrical resistance testing. The overall incidence of glove defects was 23.3%. Significantly more defects occurred in gloves used for nonsoft-tissue procedures and in gloves worn on the nondominant hand. Eighty-four percent of all defects occurred in procedures lasting >60 minutes. No differences were detected in the brands of gloves used nor among surgeons of different experience levels. The individuals performing the surgery were not able to accurately predict the presence of a defect in their gloves. Surgeons should remain alert for possible glove defects and consider measures such as changing gloves every 60 minutes or double-gloving to minimize potential complications.     

Surgical education: attitudes toward animal use in teaching surgery at Louisiana State University

Concerns over the use of animals in teaching have lead to a reduction in the number of live animal laboratories. A survey of 275 students and faculty was conducted to characterize their attitude toward the use of animals in teaching surgery. Respondents favored live animal use. They believed that model laboratories were helpful in learning aseptic technique and suturing skills but less helpful in learning tissue handling, dissection, hemostasis, or anesthesia.     

Use of ultrasonography to diagnose Sertoli cell neoplasia and cryptorchidism in a dog

Unilateral cryptorchidism and Sertoli cell tumor in the descended testis were provisionally diagnosed by use of ultrasonography in a 7-year-old Keeshond. The left testis was thought to have degenerated, but ultrasonography of the scrotum did not reveal evidence of testicular or epididymal tissue. The contralateral testis contained a hypoechoic mass believed to be a testicular tumor. Surgery and histopathologic findings confirmed the diagnosis. Ultrasonography of the scrotum and its contents should be considered for use in animals with suspected testicular neoplasia and/or degeneration.     

Food sources of early colonising arthropods: The importance of allochthonous input

Arthropod predators and detritivores are among the first colonisers on land surfaces undergoing primary succession. In the absence of higher plants and herbivores, they may either have an allochthonous food source (i.e. of geographically distant origin) or local food source that is sustained by e.g. microorganisms. By studying spiders and collembolans on sites along chronosequences on recently emerged nunataks (ice-free land in glacial areas), we analysed whether the food source of early colonisers was of local or distant origin. Also, we measured the potential changes in trophic position with increasing site age. With stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of both spiders and collembolans, we determined that allochthonous food sources are important on the youngest sites. The allochthonous food sources may explain how arthropods can persist in the absence of local primary productivity. Also, some spider species may increase their ability to survive by shifting their trophic position as the community composition changes. The results indicate that a wolf spider species shifted towards a lower trophic level with increasing site age. By contrast, no shifts in trophic position were observed for sheet-web spiders or collembolans.     

Clinical evaluation of axial pattern skin flaps in dogs and cats: 19 cases (1981-1990).

Nineteen axial pattern skin flaps were used in 16 dogs and cats to provide skin for repair of extensive cutaneous defects. Retrospective evaluation of medical records was used to determine percentage flap survival, postoperative complications, and long-term outcome of axial pattern skin flaps. The most common indication for use of axial pattern flaps was to augment wound closure following tumor resection (n = 7). Other indications included trauma (n = 5), chronic nonhealing wounds (n = 4), urine-induced cellulitis (n = 1), idiopathic dermal necrosis (n = 1), and chronic lymphoplasmocytic dermatitis (n = 1). Mean flap survival (+/- SD) was 96% (+/- 8). Postoperative complications included wound drainage (n = 15), partial dehiscence of the sutured flap (n = 7), distal flap necrosis (n = 6), infection (n = 3), edema (n = 3), and seroma formation (n = 2). After a median follow-up time of 5 months, evaluation of animals indicated that surgery provided successful wound reconstruction with good cosmetic results. Reconstruction of large cutaneous defects is facilitated by axial pattern flap application regardless of cause of wound. Postoperative complications are common but amenable to standard wound management techniques such as drain placement and surgical debridement of devitalized distal flap skin.     

Large trunk wounds.

Management of large trunk wounds begins with good wound management and bandaging. When a healthy wound bed exists and adequate tissue is present, the wound is closed. Fortunately, there is an abundance of loose trunk skin in most animals, and wound closure can be accomplished by simple reconstructive techniques, such as undermining and tension or "walking sutures." Nevertheless, some wounds and areas of the torso may require more advanced tension-relieving techniques, skin stretching, and tissue implants or flaps to achieve tension-free closure and successful wound healing. Use of these techniques allows wound closure and good cosmetic results for even those wounds that initially may seem foreboding.     

In vitro evaluation of the 18 and 36 kg Securos Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair System

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the mechanical properties of the 18 and 36 kg Securos Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair System. STUDY DESIGN: In vitro mechanical evaluation. SAMPLE POPULATION: Loop constructs of 18, 27, and 36 kilogram test (kgt) nylon leader line (NLL) secured with Securos crimp-clamps (SCC, n=40 per NLL test weight) or by a clamped square knot (CSK; n=40/NLL test weight). METHODS: The 36 kg SCC were used for the 27 and 36 kgt NLL, and 18 kg SCC were used for the 18 kgt NLL. Loop constructs were mounted on a material testing machine, and distracted at 500 mm/min for static tests, and for cyclic tests at 500 mm/min to a distraction limit of 6 mm (18 kgt) or 7.5 mm (27 and 36 kgt) for 49 cycles, until failure. Constructs were tested at 20 degrees C except for 1 group of 27 kgt CSK loops tested at 40 degrees C. Load at failure, elongation, and stiffness was recorded and compared between groups under static or cyclic testing conditions. RESULTS: All 27 and 36 kgt loops failed by disruption of NLL contained within the knot or crimp-clamp, whereas 18 kgt SCC loops failed by the NLL pulling through the crimp-clamp. The 18 kg SCC loops had considerable variability in ultimate load and elongation (coefficient of variation 29.6% and 18.3%, respectively). There was no significant difference in elongation between 27.3 kgt CSK loops tested at 20 degrees C and 40 degrees C. Generally, in both static and cyclic testing, SCC constructs formed with 27.3 or 36.4 kgt NLL performed as well or better than CSK constructs, resulting in loops that were strong, underwent minimal elongation, and had high stiffness. CONCLUSION: The results support use of the 36 kg Securos system but not the 18 kg Securos system (with the clamp and crimping device used). The significantly lower load required for failure, slippage through the clamp, and substantial variability suggested that the crimp tube diameter or the crimping device tested may be inappropriate for use with 18 kgt NLL. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Surgeons should be aware that crimp-clamp design is important in controlling suture slippage or breakage within the clamp, and that novel systems should undergo mechanical testing with the size suture material they are intended to secure before clinical use.     

Effects of carprofen on the integrity and barrier function of canine colonic mucosa

OBJECTIVE: To measure effects of carprofen on conductance and permeability to mannitol and histologic appearance in canine colonic mucosa. SAMPLE POPULATION: Colonic mucosa from 13 mature mixed-breed dogs. Procedures-Sections of mucosa from the transverse colon and proximal and distal portions of the descending colon were obtained immediately after dogs were euthanized. Sections were mounted in Ussing chambers. Carprofen (400 microg/mL) was added to the bathing solution for treated sections. Conductance was calculated at 15-minute intervals for 240 minutes. Flux of mannitol was calculated for three 1-hour periods. Histologic examination of sections was performed after experiments concluded. Conductance was graphed against time for each chamber, and area under each curve was calculated. Conductance X time, flux of mannitol, and frequency distribution of histologic findings were analyzed for an effect of region and carprofen. RESULTS: Carprofen significantly increased mean conductance X time, compared with values for control (untreated) sections for all regions of colon. Carprofen significantly increased mean flux of mannitol from period 1 to period 2 and from period 2 to period 3 for all regions of colon. Carprofen caused a significant proportion of sections to have severe sloughing of cells and erosions involving >or= 10% of the epithelium, compared with control sections. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Carprofen increased in vitro conductance and permeability to mannitol in canine colonic mucosa. Carprofen resulted in sloughing of cells and erosion of the colonic mucosa. These findings suggested that carprofen can compromise the integrity and barrier function of the colonic mucosa of dogs.