Open-heart surgery using Del-Nido cardioplegia in two dogs: partial atrioventricular septal defect and mitral repair

Del-Nido cardioplegia (DNc) is a single-dose cardioplegia that is widely used in human medicine because of its long duration. In this report, we describe two cases of open-heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) using DNc. One dog was diagnosed with partial atrioventricular septal defect, and the other dog was diagnosed with myxomatous mitral valve disease stage D. Both dogs were treated with open-heart surgery with DNc to induce temporary cardiac arrest. No complications from DNc were observed, and the patients were discharged. Veterinary heart surgeons should consider DNc as an option for temporary cardiac arrest during open-heart surgery with CPB.

Successful mitral repair in dogs by mitral annuloplasty using Hegar dilator: two case reports

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common heart disease in small-breed dogs. Mitral repair, which comprise artificial chorda tendineae implantation and mitral annuloplasty, has become the mainstay of treatment in the veterinary field. We report on two small dogs who underwent mitral repair surgery for MR. A Hegar dilator was used during mitral annuloplasty for accurate and reproducible surgery. In both cases, mitral regurgitant flow almost disappeared after surgery, and clinical signs improved. The treatment regimen was terminated 3 months after the surgery. We concluded that using a Hegar dilator may facilitate mitral valve repair surgery.

Comparison of access window created by cervical ventral slot and modified slanted ventral slot in canine cadaver

Abstract: Ten cadavers were studied to compare the accessibility of cervical vertebral canal with conventional standard ventral slot and modified slanted ventral slot. One group performed standard ventral slot procedures at the C3-4, C5-6. The other group performed modified slanted ventral slot with inverted cone technique procedures at the C3-4, C5-6 computed tomography was performed before and after surgery. The accessibility of cervical vertebral canal with conventional standard ventral slot and modified slanted ventral slot using computed tomography in C3-4 and C5-6 intervertebral space was compared. Although smaller ostectomy was performed in the modified slanted ventral slot, some lesions were more accessible but limitations were obvious in C3-4 and C5-6 intervertebral disk space. After the disc material has been identified through accurate preoperative diagnostic imaging, less morbidity and complications can be expected if the appropriate surgical method is selected based on the lesion of compression.

Presurgical assessment of splenic tumors in dogs: a retrospective study of 57 cases (2012–2017)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical and imaging characteristics of canine splenic tumors and to establish guidelines for the presurgical assessment of splenic tumors in dogs. Fifty-seven dogs that underwent total splenectomy for the treatment of splenic tumors were evaluated by examining medical records, hematologic results, diagnostic imaging results, and histopathologic results. The maximum lesion size from ultrasonography was significantly different between malignant and benign tumors (p = 0.002). There was a correlation between tumor margination and type of splenic tumors (p = 0.045). Precontrast lesion attenuation on computed tomography was significantly different between splenic malignant and benign tumors (p = 0.001). The mean ± SD precontrast lesion attenuation of malignant tumors was 40.3 ± 5.9 Hounsfield units (HU), and for benign tumors, it was 52.8 ± 6.8 HU. In conclusion, some variables of the imaging examination could be used to distinguish the type of splenic tumor. Based on the study results, using a diagnostic flowchart would be effective in increasing the survival rate of patients with splenic malignant tumors. In addition, fine needle aspiration or magnetic resonance imaging prior to surgical exploration and histopathologic examination may be useful in achieving a more accurate diagnosis.

Treatment of pancreatic pseudocyst with omentalization in a dog / 대한수의학회지

The pathogenesis of pancreatic pseudocyst is still not understood. A 5-year-old, 24-kg intact female Shetland Sheepdog was presented with anorexia and vomiting. Diagnostic imaging tests revealed that the left limb of the pancreas was thickened and contained two cystic lesions (6.3 × 5.6 × 4 cm³ and 3.5 × 4.6 × 5.5 cm³). During the laparotomy, lesions were opened with de-roofing of superabundant tissue, and omentalization was performed. The dog recovered uneventfully after surgery and was discharged on postoperative day 12. Histopathologically, it was diagnosed as chronic pancreatic pseudocyst. This case report describes the diagnosis and successful omentalization of pancreatic pseudocysts in a dog.

Treatment of pancreatic pseudocyst with omentalization in a dog

The pathogenesis of pancreatic pseudocyst is still not understood. A 5-year-old, 24-kg intact female Shetland Sheepdog was presented with anorexia and vomiting. Diagnostic imaging tests revealed that the left limb of the pancreas was thickened and contained two cystic lesions (6.3 × 5.6 × 4 cm³ and 3.5 × 4.6 × 5.5 cm³). During the laparotomy, lesions were opened with de-roofing of superabundant tissue, and omentalization was performed. The dog recovered uneventfully after surgery and was discharged on postoperative day 12. Histopathologically, it was diagnosed as chronic pancreatic pseudocyst. This case report describes the diagnosis and successful omentalization of pancreatic pseudocysts in a dog.

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica infections in eastern great egrets (Ardea alba modesta)

Five eastern great egrets with a history of ataxia, wry neck, and wet feathers were submitted to the Veterinary Diagnostic Center for pathologic examination. Slightly enlarged livers with diffuse white-grayish nodules were observed. Microscopically, the hepatic and lung parenchyma contained granulomatous lesions consisting of central necrosis. Some hearts showed myofiber necrosis with infiltration of histiocytes and heterophils. Partial 16SrRNA and gyrB gene sequences of all isolates showed high similarities (99-100%) to those of Salmonella (S.) enterica subsp. enterica. Based on pathological and molecular biological results, S. enterica subsp. enterica systemic infections were diagnosed in eastern great egrets of Korea.

Virtual otoscopy for evaluating the inner ear with a fluid-filled tympanic cavity in dogs

The feasibility of virtual otoscopy (VO) imaging was evaluated in five dogs with experimentally induced otitis media, two control dogs, and two canine patients with otitis media. VO images of the tympanic cavity and ossicles were generated with commercially available software using raw computed tomography (CT) data. Eight out of 10 ears inoculated with pathogen exhibited obvious clinical signs associated with otitis externa. CT images revealed soft tissue density material occupying the tympanic bulla compatible with otitis media in three dogs with experimentally induced otitis media and two patients. No remarkable features were observed on the radiographs. Four different VO views (ear canal, tympanic bulla, eustachian tube, and ossicular chain) were created. Promontory, cochlea window, tympanic, and septum bulla as well as ossicles were easily and clearly distinguished except for the incus and stapes of the clinical patients. VO images were not more suitable than images created with conventional CT for accurately diagnosing otitis media in this study. However, it appears that VO could be more feasible for assessing the complex structure of the inner ear in dogs with fluid-filled tympanic cavities since fluid accumulation within the tympanic bulla did not affect the evaluation of bony tissue in the middle ear on VO images.