Complications of enteroplication for the prevention of intussusception recurrence in dogs: 35 cases (1989-1999).

OBJECTIVE: To compare complication and recurrence rates in dogs treated for intussusception that underwent enteroplication to rates in dogs treated for intussusception that did not undergo enteroplication. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 35 dogs with intestinal intussusception. PROCEDURE: Information on signalment, clinical signs, potential predisposing causes, surgical technique, opioid administration, use of enteroplication, postoperative complications, and whether the intussusception recurred was obtained from the medical records. RESULTS: Dogs ranged from 8 weeks to 10 years old. Opioids were administered in the perioperative period in 34 dogs. Enteroplication was performed in 16 dogs. Complications of enteroplication that required a second surgery were identified in 3 dogs. None of the 16 dogs that underwent enteroplication had a recurrence of intussusception, whereas 1 of the 19 dogs that did not undergo enteroplication had a recurrence. Rate of intussusception recurrence and likelihood that a second surgical procedure would be required were not significantly different between dogs that underwent enteroplication and dogs that did not. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that enteroplication may be associated with life-threatening complications in dogs, but the likelihood of a dog requiring a second surgical procedure following surgical correction of intussusception was not different between dogs that underwent enteroplication at the time of the initial surgery and dogs that did not.

Pylorogastric intussusception in the dog: a case report and literature review.

A 10-month-old, neutered male Saint Bernard presented for evaluation of acute, severe vomiting. A soft-tissue mass was noted within the stomach on survey abdominal radiographs. The diagnosis of pylorogastric intussusception was made during exploratory celiotomy. The intussusception was manually reduced at surgery, the pyloric antrum was enlarged, and the duodenum was permanently affixed to the abdominal wall in an attempt to prevent recurrence of the intussusception. The dog recovered, has gained weight (5 kg), and has had only one isolated episode of vomiting during the one year since discharge from the hospital. This report documents the fourth reported case of pylorogastric (i.e., duodenogastric, gastrogastric) intussusception in the veterinary literature and is the first report that details the surgical management of the disease.

Potential central nervous system complications of von Willebrand's disease.

Three Doberman pinschers were presented on emergency referral for progressive neurological deficits. All three dogs had a similar onset of clinical signs associated with an apparently minor traumatic event. Each dog progressed to significant neurological dysfunction including paraplegia, tetraplegia, and/or loss of deep pain sensation. None of the animals was apparently affected by cervical vertebral instability ("Wobbler's Syndrome"). All were confirmed to have von Willebrand's disease. In all cases, significant epidural hemorrhage was identified. The etiology of each hemorrhage, however, was different for each animal. The cases presented here demonstrate a potential relationship between neurological deficits and the patient's ability to effectively coagulate blood. Hemostatic abnormalities, such as von Willebrand's disease, should be included as possible differential diagnoses or contributing factors in animals demonstrating neurological deficits. These abnormalities should especially be considered following trauma, intervertebral disk extrusion, or spinal surgery.

In vitro maturation of ovine oocytes in a portable incubator.

Immature ovine oocytes were collected from ovaries obtained from an abattoir and assigned to one of three treatment groups for in vitro maturation. For Treatment 1 (T1), oocytes were matured in a conventional incubator, in tissue culture wells in an atmosphere of 5% CO(2) and air. Maturation medium consisted of bicarbonate buffered Tissue Culture Medium 199 (TCM199) supplemented with fetal calf serum (FCS), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and penicillin/streptomycin (pen/strep). For Treatment 2 (T2), oocytes were matured in a portable incubator, in plastic tubes containing the same medium as T1. The medium was equilibrated with 5% CO(2) and overlayed with oil. For Treatment 3 (T3) oocytes were matured in the portable incubator without CO(2) equilibration, in tubes containing HEPES buffered TCM 199 supplemented as in T1. After 24 hours at 39 degrees C, the percentage of oocytes undergoing normal nuclear maturation was 72.55, 68.14 and 66.96% for T1, T2 and T3, respectively (P >0.05). In a second experiment oocytes were matured in the 3 treatments described, then fertilized in vitro using frozen-thawed ram sperm. Fertilization rates were 44.09, 58.62 and 55.69% for T1, T2 and T3, respectively. T1 and T2 were significantly different (P < 0.05). For Experiment 3, oocytes matured and fertilized as described were cultured in drops of Modified Brinster's Mouse Ova Culture (MBMOC) containing bovine oviductal cells. These were incubated at 39 degrees C in an atmosphere of 5% CO(2) and air for 7 days. T1, T2 and T3 resulted in 20.26, 16.94 and 24.43% development to morulae, and 4.01, 3.06 and 1.85% development to blastocysts, respectively (P >0.05). The results of these experiments indicate that maturation, fertilization, and developmental rates of ovine oocytes matured in the portable incubator are similar to those of oocytes matured in a conventional incubator. This technique shows promise for transportation of oocytes to laboratories where abattoirs are not in close proximity, and holds promise for transportation of oocytes from non-domestic animals collected in the field or remote locations, to facilities capable of utilizing and preserving the gametes.