Oxalate Nephrosis and Renal Sclerosis After Renal Transplantation in a Cat

A 10-year-old castrated domestic shorthair cat received two renal allografts, 14 days apart, for the treatment of chronic renal failure. Oxalate nephrosis developed in both allografts, and they became nonfunctional. During the transplantation period, the cat was not exposed to exogenous sources of oxalate, and there was no evidence of primary type 2 hyperoxaluria before surgery. Urologic surgery, in particular renal transplantation, has been identified as a factor that can precipitate renal failure in human patients with decompensated renal function and hyperoxaluria. If hyperoxaluria was present before surgery in this cat, it was most likely caused by increased absorption or decreased metabolism of dietary oxalate.     

Experience with Cyclosporin-A After Renal Allografting in Two Dogs Research Note

After renal allografting, cyclosporin-A was administered to one partially nonmatched dog that was followed for 79 days. Cyclosporin-A and prednisolone were administered to one nonmatched dog that was followed for 805 days. Side effects encountered with cyclosporin-A included lymphocytic dermatitis, papillomatosis, bacterial and fungal infections, and B lymphocyte hyperplasia.     

Complications and Long-term Results after Partial Laryngectomy for the Treatment of Idiopathic Laryngeal Paralysis in 45 Dogs

Forty-five dogs with severe respiratory signs caused by idiopathic, acquired laryngeal paralysis were treated by partial laryngectomy. The predominant postoperative complications were coughing in 28 dogs and pneumonia in 15 dogs. Eight dogs required a second operation to alleviate persistent or recurrent upper airway obstruction. Results of surgery were considered excellent in 11 dogs (25%), good in 18 dogs (40%), fair in 6 dogs (13%), and poor in 10 dogs (22%). Poorer results were obtained by surgical residents than by more experienced surgeons. Death in the immediate postoperative period was related to pneumonia (8 dogs) and laryngeal collapse (1 dog). Nine dogs died later of respiratory disease. Although partial laryngectomy is effective for the treatment of laryngeal paralysis, it is not recommended because of the high incidence of postoperative complications.     

Arthroscopy of the Coxofemoral Joint of Foals

An arthroscopic procedure for examination of the coxofemoral joint was developed in nine foals (four cadavers, five anesthetized) to determine if access was sufficient for evaluation and surgical treatment of intra-articular lesions. The joint was distended and the arthroscope inserted through the notch (incisura trochanterica) between the cranial and caudal parts of the greater trochanter. This portal allowed examination of the cranial, lateral, and caudal aspects of the joint. Mechanical distraction of the joint through an instrument portal located 2 to 4 cm cranial and 1 to 2 cm ventral to the arthroscope portal allowed examination of the ligament of the head of the femur, the femoral head, and articular and nonarticular surfaces of the acetabulum. Adduction and rotation of the limb improved visualization of the craniomedial and caudomedial portions of the femoral head. Traction applied to the distal limb allowed visualization of the same structures that were observed when mechanical distraction was used. Traction also created space for placement of surgical instruments into the joint through the instrument portal. Access to most regions of the joint was adequate, but access to the caudal and medial aspects of the joint was limited. Three foals were killed while they were anesthetized, and their coxofemoral joints were dissected. Two foals were allowed to recover from anesthesia and were observed for 30 days after surgery. One foal was mildly lame for 2 days after surgery. The other foal was not lame after surgery. The incisions healed, and the coxofemoral joints were radiographically normal by postoperative day 30.     

Instrumentation of Exercising Thoroughbreds to Determine Blood Gas Tensions and Acid-base Status

A device was constructed of easily obtained medical supplies, and hardware and could be used to obtain multiple arterial samples when manually triggered. The right carotid arteries in five normal horses were surgically elevated, thereby permitting percutaneous cannulation. Each horse was galloped on a 1.6-km test track at approximately 500 m/min, and the rider triggered the mechanism at each 0.4-km mark. Each horse underwent 10 test gallops, and a mean and standard error was determined for each sampling mark including preexercise and postexercise samples. The results indicated that horses ridden under the aforementioned conditions became acidemic and hypoxic.     

Partial Hepatic Resection for Treatment of a Single Liver Abscess in a Dairy Heifer

A single large hepatic abscess in a 10 month old Holstein heifer was treated successfully by partial hepatic resection. No complications or recurrence of clinical signs have developed in the 9 months since the resection. Partial hepatic resection is an effective treatment of solitary bovine liver abscesses that warrants further investigation.     

Caudal Sartorius Muscle Flap in the Dog

An anatomic study was performed on canine cadavers to define the blood supply to the caudal sartorius muscle. The vascular supply to this muscle was segmental with the saphenous artery and vein providing a distal vascular pedicle. Anastomotic channels existed between distal and proximal capillary beds within the muscle belly. This anatomic information was used to determine the feasibility of performing caudal sartorius muscle flaps in dogs. The caudal sartorius muscle was transposed to the medial tibial region in four dogs. The muscle flap was based on a singular vascular pedicle of the saphenous artery and vein. The muscle transpositions were all successful on day 14 as evidenced by gross appearance and results of histologic examination. Grossly, the muscles were well adhered to the recipient sites and were covered by connective tissue. Histologically, the specimens were characterized by viable skeletal muscle fibers, large amounts of granulation tissue, varying degrees of inflammatory response, and small foci of myocyte necrosis (2 cases). Seroma formation was a consistent postoperative complication.     

Arthroscopic Approach and Intra-Articular Anatomy of the Plantar Pouch of the Equine Tarsocrural Joint

Arthroscopic examination of structures within the plantar pouch of the tarsocrural joint was accomplished via portals in both the plantaromedial and plantarolateral aspects of the joint. Flexion and extension of the tarsus while examining the joint through either portal allowed observation of the proximal and plantar aspects of the lateral and medial trochlear ridges, the trochlear groove, the caudal aspect of the distal tibia, and the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) in its sheath. From a plantarolateral portal, the plantar talocalcaneal ligament and the plantar aspect of the lateral malleolus could be observed. The caudal aspect of the medial malleolus could not be observed with flexion or extension of the joint from a plantaromedial portal, but in some horses, the caudal aspect of the lateral malleolus could be observed. The dorsolateral and dorsomedial aspects of the plantar pouch were best examined from a portal on the ipsilateral side of the joint. An instrument portal opposite either arthroscope portal allowed access to most regions of the joint except the abaxial surface of the trochlear ridge opposite the instrument.     

Total Ear Canal Ablation Combined with Lateral Bulla Osteotomy for End-Stage Otitis in Dogs Results in Thirty Dogs

Thirty dogs with end-stage otitis were treated by either unilateral or bilateral total ear canal ablation and lateral bulla osteotomy. Otitis was considered end stage when the horizontal ear canal was collapsed, stenotic, or occluded in conjunction with chronic infection of the external and middle ear. The dogs were evaluated clinically and radiographically for 4 to 63 months. The frequency of scratching, head shaking, aural drainage, and para-aural fistulation was significantly decreased. Abnormal ear carriage and head tilt were not changed. The results in 23 dogs were graded as excellent or improved. One dog died of intraoperative hemorrhage. Complications during the period from suture removal to follow-up included para-aural fistulation (3 dogs), facial nerve paralysis (5 dogs), and head tilt (3 dogs).     

Biomechanical Stability of Four Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair Techniques in the Dog

Four commonly used cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) repair techniques were compared biomechanically in canine cadaver stifles by assessment of immediate postoperative laxity (cranial drawer) and stiffness. Each joint was tested nondestructively before repair, with the CCL intact and with the CCL excised. The cranio-caudal laxity after each repair was expressed as a percentage of the laxity in the same stifle after CCL excision. The stiffness of a repair was expressed as a percentage of the same intact joint's stiffness at an equivalent displacement. Repaired stifles were tested three consecutive times to the same maximum load (180 N) and the comparative laxity and stiffness in each test were determined. Fibular head transposition resulted in significantly increased stiffness, less laxity, and less decay per test than the other repairs. Lateral imbrication resulted in significantly less laxity on all tests, and significantly greater stiffness than the fascial strip or patellar tendon on the second and third tests to maximum load. The fascial strip resulted in significantly less laxity on all tests than the patellar tendon, but it was not significantly greater in stiffness. These data suggest that, of the reconstructive methods tested, fibular head transposition has biomechanically superior properties in the immediate postoperative period.