Effect of site of sample collection and prandial state on blood glucose concentrations measured with a portable blood glucose meter in healthy dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To compare glucose concentrations in peripheral venous and capillary blood samples collected from dogs before and after consumption of a meal and measured with a veterinary-specific portable blood glucose meter (PBGM). ANIMALS: 12 dogs (96 blood samples). PROCEDURES: A veterinary-specific PBGM was used to measure blood glucose concentrations. Glucose concentrations in capillary blood samples obtained from the carpal pad, medial aspect of a pinna, and oral mucosa were compared with glucose concentrations in blood samples obtained from a lateral saphenous vein. Samples were collected after food was withheld for 12 hours and again 2 hours after consumption of a meal. RESULTS: Location of capillary blood collection had a significant effect on glucose concentrations measured with the PBGM. Glucose concentration in capillary blood collected from the medial aspect of the pinna did not differ significantly from the glucose concentration in peripheral venous blood samples, whereas glucose concentrations in blood samples collected from the carpal pad and oral mucosa differed significantly from the glucose concentration in peripheral venous blood samples. There was no significant difference between preprandial and postprandial blood glucose concentrations. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Glucose concentrations in capillary blood collected from the medial aspect of the pinna of dogs better reflected glucose concentrations in venous blood than concentrations measured in capillary blood collected from the carpal pad or oral mucosa.

Effect of Therapeutic Ultrasound on Calcaneal Tendon Heating and Extensibility in Dogs.

Objective: To (1) characterize the warming pattern of canine calcaneal tendons during and after four different therapeutic ultrasound (US) treatment protocols, and (2) to quantify changes in tarsal flexion immediately after therapeutic US treatment, and following return to baseline temperature. Design: A prospective, crossover, experimental study. Animals: Ten adult hound-type breed dogs. Procedure: Therapeutic ultrasound (3.3 MHz) was applied to one calcaneal tendon of anesthetized dogs using four different settings applied in random fashion (1.5 and 1.0 W/cm2 continuous, and 1.5 and 1.0 W/cm2 pulsed US) while the temperature of the tendon was recorded by a thermistor needle. The contralateral tendon was used to compare extensibility of the treated soft tissues by measuring changes in tarsal joint flexion before, immediately after, and 5-min after continuous US treatment at 1.5 W/cm2 for 10 min. Results: The greatest increase in tendon temperature occurred with continuous US at 1.5 W/cm2. Pulsed US resulted in minimal tendon heating. Most of the increase in tissue temperature occurred within the first 3 min of US application. Tarsal flexion increased significantly following US treatment; however, it returned to near baseline within 5 min after US was discontinued. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: Continuous US of the calcaneal tendon at 1.5 W/cm2 resulted in the greatest increase in tissue temperature while maintaining a safe range of tissue temperature increase. Tendon heating and heat dissipation were slightly different from what has been reported for muscle. Our results suggest that 3.3 MHz US applied to tendon for >3 min may not provide additional tissue temperature increase. Therapeutic US resulted in increased tarsal flexion, however the change was only transitory. Therefore, stretching exercises should be performed during and immediately after US.

Romboplastia múltiple en cirugía de rescate del cáncer de cabeza y cuello / Multiple rhomboplasty in rescue surgery of head and neck cáncer

La romboplastia de Limberg es una técnica quirúrgica útil en la reparación de defectos faciales. Se presenta un paciente de 55 años de edad, de procedencia rural que acude a consulta de cirugía de cabeza y cuello por presentar lesión persistente de tres meses de evolución. Esta se localizaba en la región temporo-frontal derecha, ulcerada y dolorosa y provocaba molestias físicas y estéticas. Se realizó resección quirúrgica y biopsia que informó carcinoma basocelular con bordes de sección libres de lesión y quedó un defecto circular de aproximadamente 8 cm de diámetro. El tamaño y localización de esta lesión en un área poco extensible hizo imposible el cierre borde a borde, fue necesario diseñar la triple plastia de Limberg que requiere de tres colgajos concéntricos de piel de las regiones del cuero cabelludo, preauricular y frontal, seguido del decolado, transposición y sutura de los mismos sin comprometer su irrigación. La triple plastia de Limberg demuestra su vigencia en la reparación del defecto temporo-frontal y posibilita el resultado oncoplástico esperado(AU)

Limbergs rhomboplasty is a useful surgical technique for facial defect repair. Here is a 55 years-old male patient from a rural area, who went to the neck and head surgery service for a persistent lesion occurred three months before. The lesion was located in the right temporofrontal region, in the form of an ulcer that causes a lot of pain and physical and esthetical discomfort. Surgical resection and biopsy were performed, and the latter showed a basal carcinoma whose borders were lesion-free and an 8 cm round defect remained. The size and location of such lesion in a barely extensible area made the border-to-border closure of the lesion impossible. It was then necessary to design Limbergs rhomboplasty that requires three concentric cutaneous flaps from the scalp, preauricular and frontal regions, followed by dissection, transposition and suture of such flaps without affecting blood irrigation. Limbergs rhomboplasy shows that it is a good technique for forehead defect repairs and facilitates the expected oncological and esthetic outcome(AU)

Romboplastia múltiple en cirugía de rescate del cáncer de cabeza y cuello / Multiple rhomboplasty in rescue surgery of head and neck cáncer

La romboplastia de Limberg es una técnica quirúrgica útil en la reparación de defectos faciales. Se presenta un paciente de 55 años de edad, de procedencia rural que acude a consulta de cirugía de cabeza y cuello por presentar lesión persistente de tres meses de evolución. Esta se localizaba en la región temporo-frontal derecha, ulcerada y dolorosa y provocaba molestias físicas y estéticas. Se realizó resección quirúrgica y biopsia que informó carcinoma basocelular con bordes de sección libres de lesión y quedó un defecto circular de aproximadamente 8 cm de diámetro. El tamaño y localización de esta lesión en un área poco extensible hizo imposible el cierre borde a borde, fue necesario diseñar la triple plastia de Limberg que requiere de tres colgajos concéntricos de piel de las regiones del cuero cabelludo, preauricular y frontal, seguido del decolado, transposición y sutura de los mismos sin comprometer su irrigación. La triple plastia de Limberg demuestra su vigencia en la reparación del defecto temporo-frontal y posibilita el resultado oncoplástico esperado(AU)

Limbergs rhomboplasty is a useful surgical technique for facial defect repair. Here is a 55 years-old male patient from a rural area, who went to the neck and head surgery service for a persistent lesion occurred three months before. The lesion was located in the right temporofrontal region, in the form of an ulcer that causes a lot of pain and physical and esthetical discomfort. Surgical resection and biopsy were performed, and the latter showed a basal carcinoma whose borders were lesion-free and an 8 cm round defect remained. The size and location of such lesion in a barely extensible area made the border-to-border closure of the lesion impossible. It was then necessary to design Limbergs rhomboplasty that requires three concentric cutaneous flaps from the scalp, preauricular and frontal regions, followed by dissection, transposition and suture of such flaps without affecting blood irrigation. Limbergs rhomboplasy shows that it is a good technique for forehead defect repairs and facilitates the expected oncological and esthetic outcome(AU)

Porcupine quill migration in the thoracic cavity of a German shorthaired pointer.

A 7 yr old German shorthaired pointer presented with progressive respiratory distress and lethargy. Two weeks prior to presentation, the dog had porcupine quills removed from the left forepaw, muzzle, and sternal area. At the time of presentation, the dog had bounding pulses and friction rubs in the right dorsal lung field. Harsh lung sounds and decreased lung sounds were ausculted in multiple lung fields. Radiographs revealed a pneumothorax and rounding of the cardiac silhouette suggestive of pericardial effusion. Computed tomographic imaging was performed and revealed multiple porcupine quills in the thoracic cavity. Surgery was performed and quills were found in multiple lung lobes and the heart. Following surgery the dog remained hypotensive. A post-operative echocardiogram revealed multiple curvilinear soft-tissue opacities in the heart. Given the grave prognosis the dog was subsequently euthanized and a postmortem examination was performed. A single porcupine quill was discovered in the left atrium above the mitral valve annulus. The quill extended across the aortic root, impinging on the coronary artery below the level of the aortic valve. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first known report of porcupine quill migration through the heart.