Congenital esophageal hiatal hernia in the Chinese shar-pei dog.

Esophageal hiatal hernia was diagnosed in 11 young Chinese Shar-Pei dogs between October 1985 and July 1991. The dogs ranged in age from 2 to 11 months and included 3 females and 8 males. The most common clinical signs were regurgitation, vomiting, and hypersalivation. Physical examination was normal in 6 dogs; abnormal physical examination findings in the other 5 dogs included fever, dehydration, hypersalivation, and pulmonary wheezes and crackles. Laboratory evaluation was significant only for neutrophilia in 5 dogs. A diagnosis of hiatal hernia was made on the basis of survey thoracic radiographic and/or barium esophagram findings of displacement of the esophagogastric junction and stomach into the thoracic cavity; the diagnosis was confirmed by surgery in 9 dogs and at necropsy in 2 dogs. Megaesophagus (n = 7), gastroesophageal reflux (n = 4), and esophageal hypomotility (n = 1) were additional findings in some dogs. Aspiration pneumonia was diagnosed in 7 of the dogs. Medical therapies formulated for the therapy of presumed reflux esophagitis generally failed to resolve the clinical signs associated with the hiatal hernia. Hiatal herniae were surgically repaired in 9 of the Shar-Peis by various combinations of diaphragmatic crural apposition, fixation of the esophagus to the diaphragmatic crus (esophagopexy), and left fundic tube gastropexy. Eight of the animals survived surgery, six of which have been asymptomatic since surgery (19 to 36 months). The megaesophagus, esophageal hypomotility, and bronchopneumonia resolved in all of these dogs.

Correlation between thoracic radiographs and postmortem findings in dogs with hemangiosarcoma: 77 cases (1984-1989).

Thoracic radiographic and postmortem findings were compared in dogs with histologically confirmed hemangiosarcoma (HSA). On the basis of results of radiography, a false-negative diagnosis was made for pulmonary HSA in 10 (21.7%) of 46 dogs, and in 26 (53.1%) of 49 dogs for cardiac HSA. The incidence of false-negative radiographic diagnosis for pulmonary HSA was lower in dogs when left and right lateral views were obtained. The radiographic sensitivity was 78%, and the negative-predictive value was 74% for pulmonary HSA. The radiographic sensitivity was 47%, and the negative-predictive value was 43% for cardiac HSA.

Excision of tumors in the nasal vestibule of two dogs.

Two dogs with tumors in the left nasal vestibule were treated by surgical excision of the affected part of the nose. Radiation and chemopotentiation were used in one dog, which remained tumor-free after 12 months. When recovering from anesthesia, the second dog developed respiratory distress associated with upper airway obstruction and failure to mouth breathe. The dog was successfully treated by temporary tracheostomy and remained tumor-free after 3 months. Surgery preserved the function of the right nostril and gave an acceptable cosmetic result in both cases.

Hiatal hernia repair by restoration and stabilization of normal anatomy. An evaluation in four dogs and one cat.

Clinical signs of esophageal hiatal hernia in four dogs and one cat included regurgitation, vomiting, hematemesis, hypersalivation, dysphagia, and dyspnea. Thoracic radiographs, esophagram, and fluoroscopy were used to demonstrate cranial displacement of the esophagogastric junction and part of the stomach through the esophageal hiatus. Other findings included megaesophagus, esophageal hypomotility, gastroesophageal reflux, and pneumonia. Medical therapy failed to resolve the clinical signs. Reduction in size of the esophageal hiatus, fixation of the esophagus to the diaphragmatic crus (esophagopexy), and a left fundic gastropexy were performed. Surgical results were considered good to excellent.

Epidemiologic, clinical, pathologic, and prognostic characteristics of splenic hemangiosarcoma and splenic hematoma in dogs: 217 cases (1985).

Data on age, sex, and breed were obtained from surgical pathologic records of 92 dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma (SHS) and for 125 dogs with splenic hematoma (SHA) diagnosed in 1985 at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. Further information on body weight, clinical and surgical findings, and survival time was obtained for 59 dogs (64.1%) with SHS and 91 dogs (72.8%) with SHA. Splenic hemangiosarcoma was markedly more common in dogs 8 to 13 years old, and SHA was appreciably more common in dogs greater than or equal to 8 years old, compared with dogs 1 to 7 years old. Compared with sexually intact females, only spayed females were at significantly (odds ratio [or], 2.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2 to 4.1) increased risk for developing SHS; sex predisposition was not found for dogs with SHA. The German Shepherd Dog was the only breed with increased risk for development of either SHS (OR, 4.7; 95% CI, 2.7 to 7.8) or SHA (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.7 to 4.9), compared with all other purebred dogs. Association of tumor type for 7 commonly reported clinical signs with observance of hemoperitoneum at surgery was determined; anorexia (P = 0.01), collapse (P = 0.01), and hemoperitoneum (P less than 0.001) were significantly more common in dogs with SHS. The median survival time for dogs with SHS was 19 days, compared with 338 days for dogs with SHA (P less than 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Idiopathic hemorrhagic pericardial effusion with organized thrombi in a dog.

A dog was examined because of cardiac tamponade secondary to pericardial effusion. Masses adjacent to the right atrial and ventricular walls were revealed by echocardiography. Pericardectomy and biopsies of the masses established the diagnosis of idiopathic hemorrhagic pericardial effusion with organized thrombi. The dog was healthy 3 months after surgery. These organized thrombi mimicked cardiac neoplasia echocardiographically, and such a possibility should be included in the list of differential diagnoses of cardiac masses.

Application of magnetic resonance imaging technique in determining canine muscle and human free-flap viability.

Magnetic resonance imaging technique is an exciting, new, safe clinical tool that provides a noninvasive way to monitor free-tissue transfers. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) produces a cross-sectional tomographic image at higher resolution than conventional CAT scans and provides a dynamic and physiologic assessment of transferred tissue. We first studied ischemic muscle in the beagle hindlimb gracilis muscles and found an incremental and definitive increase in signal strength both over time and in comparing complete devascularization to partial devascularization. In the right hindlimb (partially devascularized), there was an average increase in T2 (measured in milliseconds) of 2.5 percent at 1 hour, 16.72 percent at 3 hours, and 16.45 percent at 12 hours as compared to normal undisturbed muscle. Similarly, the left hindlimb (completely devascularized) measurements increased from 10.97 percent at 1 hour to 24.02 percent at 3 hours to 47.75 percent at 12 hours. Possible explanations for T2 increases include an increase in intercellular and intracellular water, a change in pH, and possible protein metabolism changes. Clinical studies in seven patients with free flaps have shown "normal" T2 values in healthy tissue comparable to undisturbed canine gracilis muscle and the change in contour and composition of tissue over time. The clinical usefulness of these data is apparent.