Long-lasting hypoaldosteronism after adrenalectomy in a cat with hyperaldosteronism.

Case summary: A 10-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat was presented with an abdominal mass, associated renal failure, chronic vomiting, anorexia and progressive polyuria/polydipsia lasting for 3 weeks. Clinical examination and initial blood work revealed azotaemia, hypokalaemia and hypertension. Abdominal ultrasound showed an adrenal mass with a diameter of 3 cm near the right kidney. High serum aldosterone suggested primary hyperaldosteronism. Surgery enabled identification of the mass and its excision along with the right adrenal gland. Histologically, carcinoma of the adrenal cortex was diagnosed. Postoperatively, an increase in serum creatinine and potassium, along with a low serum aldosterone, led to a diagnosis of hypoaldosteronism. Mineralocorticoid therapy for 6 months was necessary, resulting in clinical and biological improvement. Relevance and novel information: To our knowledge, this case describes the longest-lasting reported secondary hypoaldosteronism in a cat, after unilateral adrenalectomy for an adrenal carcinoma with hyperaldosteronism.

Comparison of computed tomography and surgical findings and investigation of their associations with outcomes for dogs with sublumbar abscesses.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare the results of preoperative CT and surgical findings in dogs with sublumbar abscesses and investigate potential associations between these variables and the outcome of abscess recurrence. ANIMALS: 51 client-owned dogs. PROCEDURES: A retrospective, records-based study was performed of dogs undergoing surgery for treatment of sublumbar abscesses diagnosed by use of CT between January 2010 and December 2018. Signalment, clinical signs, clinicopathologic data, CT findings, surgical techniques and findings, duration of hospitalization, postoperative treatment, and complications were recorded. Long-term follow-up was performed through telephone interviews. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate associations between the variables of interest and abscess recurrence. RESULTS: 51 dogs met the study inclusion criteria; 48 were included in outcome analysis. The CT findings agreed with surgical findings for identification of a migrating vegetal foreign body for 39 of 51 (77%) dogs. All dogs survived to hospital discharge; 1 dog died of hemoabdomen 3 days after surgery, and 6 had minor (surgical wound) complications reported. Abscess recurrence developed in 12 of 48 (25%) dogs with a median time to recurrence of 6 months. Identification of diskospondylitis on CT examination was the only investigated factor significantly associated with recurrence; odds of recurrence in dogs with this finding were 8.4 times those for dogs without this finding. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our results suggested dogs with sublumbar abscesses have a good prognosis after surgery, although recurrence can develop. Preoperative identification of diskospondylitis was significantly associated with abscess recurrence in this study sample.

Treatment and outcome of spontaneous pneumothorax secondary to suspected migrating vegetal foreign body in 37 dogs.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to describe surgical findings, treatment and outcome of spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) secondary to suspected migrating vegetal foreign body (MVFB). METHODS: This retrospective study included dogs with computed tomography (CT) consistent with SP suspected to be secondary to MVFB that underwent thoracic surgery. They were divided into two groups according to whether CT identified (group 1) or only suspected (group 2) an MVFB. RESULTS: Thirty-seven dogs were included (twenty-one in group 1 and 16 in group 2). An MVFB was identified during surgery in 18 of 21 of cases of group 1 and in 10 of 16 of group 2. An agreement between lobes affected on CT and surgical findings was observed in 34 of 40 lobes. In nine of 37 of cases, a lung perforation was identified without evidence of MVFB. Thirty-nine lobectomies were performed: 15 complete and 24 partial. No recurrence of pneumothorax was observed. In four dogs, a second surgery was necessary to remove an MVFB 1.5 to 3 months after the initial surgery due to secondary draining tracts. CONCLUSION: Surgical approach planed with CT resolved SP in all cases before discharge with excellent short-term outcome and no major complication. CT was reliable to assess perforated lung lobes in 85% of cases. Clinical signs of delayed draining tract developed in 33% of cases where surgery failed to find an MVFB identified on CT.

Plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide concentration helps to predict survival in dogs with symptomatic degenerative mitral valve disease regardless of and in combination with the initial clinical status at admission.

OBJECTIVES: Although mitral valve disease (MVD) is the most common canine heart disease, readily available prognostic markers of the disease are still lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the comparative ability of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide plasma concentration (NT-proBNP) and various echocardiographic variables to predict outcome in dogs with MVD. ANIMALS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-four dogs with ISACHC classes 2 and 3 MVD (Groups A and B, respectively) were prospectively recruited. NT-proBNP and several echo-Doppler variables at inclusion were compared as predictors of outcome at 6 months in 54/74 dogs. RESULTS: NT-proBNP was significantly higher in Group B than in Group A (P<0.0001), and was the only tested variable significantly different between survivor and non-survivor dogs in both groups (P<0.05). In the whole canine population, a threshold of 1500 pmol/L could discriminate survivor from non-survivor dogs with a sensitivity and specificity of 80% and 73%, respectively. When combining ISACHC class with NT-proBNP levels, a cut-off of 1265 pmol/L was predictive of survival in Group A, whereas the cut-off was 2700 pmol/L for Group B. CONCLUSIONS: NT-proBNP is correlated with MVD severity and could be used in combination with clinical status to predict cardiac outcome.