Commercial polyester/cotton fabric [Damour]: a novel prosthetic material for hernioplasty in ruminants

The aim of this work was to study the possibility of using a new commercial polyester/cotton fabric to repair large sized umbilical and abdominal hernias in calves and small ruminants. Twenty-four animals [16 calves, 3 buffalo calves, 4 sheep, 1 goat] with umbilical or abdominal hernia were included in this study. The diameter of hernial ring ranged from [12-25] cm. An underlay technique was used for fixation of the prosthetic material that was placed under the visceral peritoneum after omentopexy and was secured to the recipient tissue with interrupted overlapped pattern using polypropylene monofilament suture material. After one year follow up, normal healing without complications in 19 animals was revealed [79.82%]. Wound infection and delayed healing were recorded in 3 animals [12.5%] and wound dehiscence and re-herniation were observed in 2 cases [8.3%]. In conclusion, our results suggested that commercial polyester/cotton fabric [Damour] represents a new cost effective alternative to commonly used meshes for hernioplasty of large sized hernias with relatively low rate of complications and recurrence in calves and small ruminants

Vitamin E and ascorbic acid efficacy on renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in experimental dogs

It was reported that ischemia-reperfusion injury [IRI] is a major cause of acute renal damage in both the native and transplanted kidneys. Sixteen clinically healthy male dogs were exposed to 45 minutes renal ischemia followed by reperfusion and unilateral nephrectomy. Those dogs were subdivided equally into 4 groups. Gp.[1] was the positive control, gp.[2] was treated with vitamin E [20mg / kg Bwt/ day], gp.[3] was treated with ascorbic acid [30mg / mg / kg Bwt/ day] and gp. [4] was treated with both drugs. The experimental dogs were sacrificed, 7day after surgery. Specimens were taken from the left kidney in all groups. The serum creatinine, urea nitrogen and potassium levels were significantly increased while the serum sodium and creatinine clearance were reduced in all groups, compared with the basal value. The urine of the positive control group contained protein and blood, besides hyaline and cellular casts. Gps. [2 and 3] showed a weak improvement in the renal function while gp. [4] relieved some of the damage induced by the renal ischemia- reperfusion. Microscopically gp. [1] showed diffuse coagulative necrosis of the renal epitheliurn. Also casts were present inside the lumina of the renal tubules.Gp. [2] showed moderate necrotic or degenerative changes of some tubular epithelium accompanied with contraction of some glomerular tufts and leukocytic infiltration. Gp. [3] showed periglomerular leukocytic aggregations mainly lymphocytes with lobulation of some glomerular tufts and various degenerative or coagulative necrosis. Gp. [4] showed that the majority of renal tubules suffered from hydropic degeneration, cloudy swelling and some of them revealed necrotic changes with absence of nuclei. It could be concluded that the combined vitamin E and ascorbic acid treatment partially ameliorated the renal IRI