Perineal herniorrhaphy: perioperative data from 100 dogs.

One hundred dogs (83 intact males, 15 castrated males, and two intact females) underwent 110 perineal herniorrhaphy procedures. Mixed-breed dogs (n = 32), miniature poodles (n = 14), Boston terriers (n = 11), and Pekingese (n = 9) were represented most frequently. Perineal swelling (n = 48) and a perineal defect on rectal palpation (n = 31) were common clinical signs. Twenty dogs had urinary bladder retroflexion and were significantly more likely to have elevated serum urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations, hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, and neutrophilic leukocytosis. Only five of 43 dogs evaluated radiographically had prostatomegaly. Of 30 dogs receiving oral barium, all had rectal deviation. The most frequent complications during the hospitalization period were incisional (n = 35), followed by rectal prolapse (n = 9), tenesmus (n = 8), and depression (n = 8). Fifty-six of 70 dogs with follow-up had no complications.

Pulsed spectral Doppler evaluation of a peripheral arteriovenous fistula in a horse.

Pulsed spectral Doppler ultrasonography was used to characterize the vascular involvement and anatomic boundaries of a peripheral arteriovenous fistula on the hemithorax of a horse. This information facilitated surgical removal of the fistula. Pulsed spectral Doppler evaluation of suspected peripheral vascular anomalies should be considered for the diagnosis of similar lesions, in which contrast angiography is not possible.

Surgery of the tonsils.

The palatine tonsils are paired aggregates of lymphoid tissue that are surgically removed as a result of primary tonsillar disease, or are extirpated in an effort to decrease upper airway resistance in conjunction with other procedures of the oropharynx. Complications from tonsillectomy can arise for three reasons: 1) the effects of tonsil disease on the function of the oropharyngeal regions; 2) surgical dissection in the region; or 3) postoperative complication of the insult to tissue. Thorough preoperative patient evaluation, gentle tissue handling plus meticulous hemostasis, and careful observation during the postoperative period are stressed in this discussion of problems in tonsillar surgery.

Upper airway obstruction in performance horses. Differential diagnoses and treatment.

Abnormalities of the nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, and trachea result in respiratory noise and exercise intolerance. Clinical features of common upper respiratory conditions of performance horses are reviewed with emphasis on diagnosis, treatment, and risk factors that affect the outcome of surgical treatment.

Arytenoidectomy for advanced unilateral chondropathy with accompanying lesions.

A noncurrent prospective study of nonworking horses with arytenoid chondropathy was conducted to confirm a clinical impression that horses with unilateral chondropathy and accompanying lesions had a poorer prognosis after arytenoidectomy than horses with bilateral or uncomplicated unilateral chondropathy. Surgical failure was defined as death, euthanasia, permanent tracheostomy, or reoperation. Survival to surgical failure and clinical improvement data were compared between horses with and without accompanying lesions treated by arytenoidectomy. The probability of surgical failure was significantly higher and times to surgical failure were significantly shorter for horses with unilateral chondropathy and accompanying lesions than for horses with bilateral or uncomplicated unilateral chondropathy. Clinical improvement at the median follow-up time of 6 months was significantly less likely in horses with than without accompanying lesions. Horses with endoscopic evidence of inflammation and paralyzed opposite cartilage were significantly less likely to improve clinically than horses with pharyngeal cicatrix.

Effects of age and prosthesis material on in vitro cartilage retention of laryngoplasty prostheses in horses.

Cartilage retention strengths of laryngoplasty prostheses were compared in larynges of 2-, 3-, and 4-year-old horses, using doubled polyester and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene prostheses. Bilateral laryngoplasties were performed on each of 15 (seven 2-year-old, two 3-year-old, and six 4-year-old) larynges, which were collected at an abbatoir. Prostheses were secured to a mechanical testing machine, and tension causing arytenoid cartilage abduction was applied, until total failure of the cartilage or prosthesis resulted. Tension caused cricoid cartilage failure in 1 specimen, and muscular process cartilage failure in the remainder. There was no significant effect of age, prosthetic material, or side of prosthesis placement on cartilage retention of the prostheses. Additionally, frequency of multiple load-displacement peaks, indicating partial muscular process failure, was not affected by age or prosthetic material variables.

Silicone elastomer sling for fecal incontinence in dogs.

Fecal incontinence was created by bilateral pudendal neurectomy in 12 dogs. In six dogs, the fecal incontinence was treated by implantation of a polyester-impregnated silicone elastomer sling to form an artificial external anal sphincter. Six dogs underwent the same operative procedure without the implant to serve as controls. Five dogs regained total continence and one dog regained partial continence after implantation of the sling. Four control dogs remained incontinent and two control dogs regained partial continence. The difference between the dogs with slings and the controls was statistically significant (P less than 0.01). The only complication was infection in one dog, which was treated successfully. Histologic reaction to the implant was confined to a zone of fibrosis 1 to 3 mm surrounding the implant. The sling was well tolerated clinically and appeared to offer a successful method for correction of fecal incontinence in dogs.

Urachal remnant as a cause of pollakiuria and dysuria in a filly.

A urachal remnant, causing pollakiuria and dysuria, was diagnosed by rectal palpation of a urinary bladder adhesion and endoscopic visualization of a urinary bladder diverticulum. Surgical excision of the remnant resulted in relief of abnormal micturition, but the filly was euthanatized 9 months after surgery because of a chronic ventral midline incisional infection. Pollakiuria and dysuria associated with urachal abscessation occur most commonly in calves. This report documents the syndrome in a horse.

Repair of a traumatically induced oronasal fistula in a cat with a rostral tongue flap.

Repair of an extensive oronasal fistula in a cat was accomplished by the use of a tongue flap. The dorsal surface of the tongue was debrided of mucosa and the edges were trimmed to produce a bleeding surface. Rotation of the tongue 180 degrees upon its long axis allowed the debrided surface to be sutured in apposition with the palatine mucosa. The mouth was wired closed and the cat was fed blenderized canned cat food for 4 weeks through a pharyngostomy tube. The tongue pedicle was amputated in successive stages to stimulate collateral circulation. Complications included a partial dehiscence along one edge of the suture line, which was corrected by resuturing.

DDAVP-induced increases in coagulation factor VIII and von Willebrand factor in the plasma of conscious dogs.

Infusion of the vasopressin analogue DDAVP into five normal dogs at doses of 0.1-2.0 micrograms DDAVP per kg body weight induced dose-dependent increases in the plasma content of coagulation factor VIII and von Willebrand factor. Plasma concentrations of von Willebrand factor (determined antigenically as factor VIII-related antigen and functionally as coagglutinin cofactor activity) and coagulation factor VIII were measured immediately before and at 10, 30, and 120 min after 10-min intravenous infusions of DDAVP. The greatest increases in coagulation factor VIII were produced with the 2.0 micrograms/kg dose. Ten minutes after infusion the mean increase in coagulation factor VIII was 32 units/dl (concentrations of all indices were reported relative to concentrations in a standard canine plasma pool, arbitrarily assigned a concentration of 100 units/dl) and this increase did not change significantly throughout the duration of the experiment. At 10 min post-infusion, the mean factor VIII-related antigen concentration increased 81 units/dl (dose = 2.0 micrograms/kg) and did not change significantly for the duration of the experiment. The maximum mean increase in coagglutinin cofactor activity, 141 units/dl, occurred 10 min after infusion (dose = 1.0 microgram/kg). Coagglutinin cofactor activity decreased significantly from peak activity by 120 min post-infusion.

Comparison of suture materials and suture patterns for inverting intestinal anastomosis of the jejunum in the horse.

In 7 horses, 4 anastomoses were done in the small intestine in each, using the combinations of synthetic absorbable monofilament and multifilament suture materials with continuous- and interrupted-suture patterns in the serosubmucosal layer of a 2-layer inverting-suture technique. Horses were evaluated 30 days after the operation for adhesion formation, lumen diameter, evidence of chronic obstruction, and suture tract inflammation at the anastomosis. Postoperative obstruction occurred in 5 of the 7 horses, and 6 horses survived. One horse was euthanatized on postoperative day 6 after 48 hours of ileus and obstruction; necropsy revealed a partial intussusception involving the anastomosis done with continuous multifilament-suture material. Two other horses that became obstructed between postoperative days 3 and 5 had protracted ileus and gastric reflux up to 48 hours' duration, but survived. Horses that had obstruction after the 6th postoperative day recovered within 4 hours of onset. The continuous inverting-suture pattern in the serosubmucosal layer resulted in significantly (P less than 0.05) fewer adhesions than did the interrupted pattern, and suture material had no effect on adhesion formation. There was no significant difference in the percentage of reduction of lumen diameter between the variations of the 2-layer technique, and there was no evidence of chronic obstruction related to any of the anastomoses. Suture tract inflammation was moderate in the anastomoses, using continuous-multifilament suture, with neutrophils being the predominant cell type. The anastomoses with continuous-monofilament suture had mild inflammation with focal accumulations of neutrophils. Minimal inflammation was associated with both types of suture in the interrupted pattern.

Comparison of three suture techniques for anastomosis of the small intestine in the horse.

Seven horses were used to compare the Gambee, the crushing, and a 2-layer inverting suture pattern composed of a simple continuous layer in the mucosa oversewn with a continuous Lembert pattern in the seromuscular layer. Horses were evaluated at 30 days for adhesion formation, lumen diameter, and quality of healing at the anastomotic sites. One horse was euthanatized 9 days after surgery after 24 hours of ileus and colic; necropsy revealed septic peritonitis and widespread adhesions. One horse had no adhesions. The remaining horses had adhesions associated with 50% of the Gambee and 50% of the crushing anastomoses. There were no adhesions related to the 2-layer inverting techniques in these 6 horses. There was no significant difference in percentage reduction of lumen diameters between the 3 techniques, and there was no evidence of chronic obstruction resulting from any of the anastomotic techniques. Histologically, the inflammatory response and fibrosis were minimal in the single layer patterns, but there was increased fibrosis and suture tract inflammation in the 2-layer inverting technique.