Can peri-surgical electroacupuncture relieve immunity suppression? A pilot study in dogs.

General anesthesia and surgical stress can suppress the immunological response by acting both directly on the immune system and indirectly on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. Disturbance of the immune system during the perioperative period can lead to complications such as wound-healing disorders and infections up to sepsis. Effectiveness of acupuncture in regulating the immune function by increasing leukocyte numbers and inhibiting inflammatory response has been proven. This study aimed to explore the impact of electroacupuncture (EAP) on the dynamic balance of the immune system and immune cell populations in dogs undergoing surgery. Twelve healthy bitches scheduled for elective ovariectomy were divided into two groups according to whether (EAP, n=6) or not (CTR, n=6) a peri-operative electroacupuncture treatment was performed. Levels of leukocytes (neutrophils, monocytes, T- and B-cells) and immunoglobulins M (IgM) and A (IgA) were measured in blood samples collected before (T0), 1 h (T1) and 2.5 h (T2) after anesthesia induction. Leukocytes count decreased from T0 to T1 in both groups and restored within 1.5 h in EAP group whereas remained significantly lower in CTR group (P<0.02). In particular, neutrophils and monocytes increased in dogs receiving EAP (P<0.01) while T-cells decreased in CTR group (P<0.04) at T2. B-cells and cytotoxic T-cells decreased in EAP dogs (P<0.04) at T2. No differences in helper T-cells, IgM and IgA levels were recorded between groups and over time. Our results suggest a modulatory effect of EAP on the immune system which is early expressed on neutrophils, monocytes and T-cells.

External fixator-assisted plating osteosynthesis in a rabbit model of femoral bone defects appears to be a feasible and reproducible surgical technique: preliminary insights from a bone substitute study.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to assess the complications associated with the use of an external fixator-assisted plate osteosynthesis technique to stabilize a femoral bone defect in a rabbit model and to evaluate if this technique could avoid the mispositioning and the displacement of the femoral fragments during the surgical procedure. METHODS: A preliminary cadaveric animal study was conducted to develop a new technique of external fixator-assisted plating. Thirty rabbits underwent a surgical procedure consisting in the creation of a femoral bone defect and, subsequently an implantation of a bone substitute through the assistance of a temporary external fixator. The fixator's ability to maintain length and alignment during surgery was documented. All intraoperative complications were prospectively collected. RESULTS: No complications related to the use of the temporary external fixator were reported. The technique successfully prevented mispositioning and dislocation during plating in all the rabbits. CONCLUSION: In a rabbit animal model, the use of an external fixator-assisted plate osteosynthesis technique appears to be feasible and effective in avoiding misposition and rotation of femoral fragments when performing osteotomy and plating to create a mid-diaphyseal femoral defect.

Ovarian Embryonal Carcinoma in a Dog.

A 17-month-old female doberman pinscher was referred for an abdominal mass and ascites. Exploratory laparotomy revealed the presence of a large neoplastic mass replacing the right ovary and associated with multiple mesovarian, mesometrial and peritoneal nodules. An ovariohysterectomy was performed. Grossly, the tumour was soft and multilocular with large areas of haemorrhage and necrosis. Microscopically, it was infiltrative and composed of round and polygonal cells arranged respectively in solid sheets or forming distorted tubular structures separated by thick fibrovascular septae. Tubules contained necrotic debris, proteinaceous fluid or small endoluminal papillary structures. Marked cellular atypia, multiple neoplastic emboli and high mitotic count were observed. Immunohistochemically, the round cells uniformly expressed placental alkaline phosphatase, while the polygonal cells arranged in tubules and papillae expressed cytokeratin (CK) AE1/AE3 and CK7. A final diagnosis of metastasizing ovarian embryonal carcinoma (EC), a primitive germ cell tumour characterized by rudimentary epithelial differentiation was made. Canine ovarian EC should be considered as a differential diagnosis for undifferentiated aggressive ovarian tumours in young dogs.

Clinical and computed tomography tumour dimension assessments for planning wide excision of injection site sarcomas in cats: how strong is the agreement?

In injection site sarcoma (ISS) in cats lateral as well as deep margins should be correctly planned for a successful surgical outcome. The discrepancy between clinical and computed tomography (CT) measurements of dimension in resectable tumour has led to possible bias that affects the subsequent surgical dose. The aim of this study was to prospectively investigate the agreement between clinical and CT measurements of dimension in newly diagnosed ISS in cats. Fifty-three client-owned cats that underwent both clinical and CT measurements of the length and width of ISS were included. CT measurements showed a tendency towards being larger than clinical dimensions, and this difference increased with increasing tumour size. Based on our results, in further studies focusing on ISS in cats, the kind of assessment used to define tumour dimensions (CT versus clinic) should be declared and specified to properly consider surgical results and prognostic impact of this variable.

Pharmacokinetics and sedative effects of dexmedetomidine in dairy calves.

AIMS: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of dexmedetomidine (DEX) administered I/V at a dose of 5 µg/kg bodyweight in dairy calves and to compare the sedative effects of anaesthetic protocols involving DEX and xylazine. METHODS: Nine dairy calves, aged 17-20 days, were treated with 5 µg/kg I/V dexmedetomidine. For pharmacokinetic evaluation, blood samples were collected over 12 hours and serum samples were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Another nine dairy calves, aged 16-20 days, were treated with 0.2 mg/kg I/V xylazine. After both treatments, heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature were measured for 20 minutes. Sedation quality and recovery times were also assessed. RESULTS: The kinetics of DEX was best described by a two-compartment model. The distribution and elimination half-lives were 8.7 (SD 5.0) and 83.5 (SD 67.5) minutes, respectively. Mean maximum concentration and body clearance were 12.5 (SD 8.6) ng/mL and 27.9 (SD 13.1) mL/minute/kg, respectively; the mean volume of distribution at steady state was 2,170.8 (SD 1,657.5) mL/kg. A decrease in heart rate was observed after treatments with both DEX and xylazine. No differences in heart or respiration rate, or rectal temperature were observed between the two treatment groups. The onset of sedation occurred after 2.7 (SD 0.67) minutes for calves treated with DEX and 2.8 (SD 0.78) minutes for calves treated with xylazine, and was characterised by a similar degree of deep sedation and ease of handling of the calves. All recoveries were eventless, and no adverse reactions were noted. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Dexmedetomidine treatment resulted in a reliable and long lasting sedation in calves, a transient decrease in heart rate and no modification in respiratory rate or rectal temperature. The results were comparable to xylazine, the most popular alpha-2-agonist among bovine practitioners. The use of DEX in dairy calves for rapid procedures such as dehorning or castration could be suggested.

A rare case of pituitary chromophobe carcinoma in a dog: clinical, tomographic and histopathological findings.

A 9 year old male mixed-breed dog was presented for progressive aggressiveness towards the owner. The neurological evaluation was consistent with a forebrain syndrome. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed enlargement of the third ventricle and presence of a large spheroidal neoplasm in the sellar/parasellar region suggestive of a pituitary macroadenoma. On the owner request, the dog was euthanized. Histopathological examination revealed the presence of a pituitary chromophobe carcinoma. To the author's knowledge, pituitary carcinomas have been rarely described in dogs, especially the chromophobe subtype.

The role of birth weight on litter size and mortality within 24h of life in purebred dogs: What aspects are involved?

In humans, scientific evidence emphasizes the role of birth weight on neonatal welfare, morbidity and mortality. In canine species, defining normal ranges of birth weight is a harder issue due to a great morphological variability in size, body weight and breed. The aim of this study was to correlate birth weight with litter size and mortality within 24h of life in 789 pups from 140 litters of purebred dogs and to investigate the aspects that might affect these factors. Birth weight was influenced by maternal size, weight and age (P<0.001). The lightest pups were from toy sized or weighing up to 10 kg bitches. Conversely, bitches aged 2-8 years whelped heavier pups than younger and older mothers. Birth weight was also related both to litter size, with heavier pups in smaller rather than in larger litters from medium sized bitches, and breed (P<0.05). Unexpectedly, birth weight did not differ between live born and stillborn pups. However, birth weight was lower in pups dying within 24h of life (P<0.05). High mortality of pups was related both to short pregnancies (P<0.05), also showing lighter litters (P<0.001), and to dystocic parturitions (P<0.001). Litter size was associated with parity, type and number of mating, and length of pregnancy (P<0.001). Low birth weight appears to predispose to early neonatal mortality suggesting a predominant role of the breed rather than size and weight in determining birth weight in pups.

Prognostic potential of amniotic fluid analysis at birth on canine neonatal outcomes.

Glucose, lactate and cortisol concentrations in amniotic fluid were measured at birth in 95 pups and related to neonatal viability based on Apgar scoring and to neonatal mortality. Neither amniotic parameters nor neonatal mortality were associated with the Apgar score. Stillborn pups showed high lactate (P < 0.001) and cortisol (P < 0.05) but low glucose amniotic concentrations (P < 0.001). No amniotic fluid differences were observed between normal and malformed pups. Amniotic glucose (P < 0.001), lactate (P < 0.05) and cortisol (P < 0.05) concentrations were higher in pups delivered by vaginal parturition than by Caesarean section. Birth weight was higher in live pups than in pups dying within 48 h (P < 0.05). Although these are preliminary results, the analysis of amniotic fluid collected at birth could be a valuable predictor of neonatal outcomes in dogs.

Pharmacokinetics of intravenous ketorolac in cats undergoing gonadectomy.

AIM: To determine the pharmacokinetics of ketorolac tromethamine (0.5 mg/kg) when administered I/V to cats undergoing gonadectomy. METHODS: Ketorolac was administered to nine female and three male shorthair domestic cats as an I/V bolus of 0.5 mg/kg after intubation, and 20 minutes prior to ovariectomy or orchiectomy. Intra-operative cardiorespiratory variables were monitored and blood samples were collected over 24 hours. Concentrations of ketorolac in serum were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography to establish pharmacokinetic parameters. RESULTS: During surgery, mean end tidal isoflurane concentration was 1.63 (SD 0.24)% and normocapnia and spontaneous ventilation were maintained in all animals. The kinetics of ketorolac was described by a two-compartment model. The distribution and elimination half-lives were 0.09 (SD 0.06) and 4.14 (SD 1.18) hours, respectively. The body clearance was 56.8 (SD 33.1) mL/h/kg. The volume of distribution at steady-state and the mean residence time were 323.9 (SD 115.7) mL/kg and 6.47 (SD 2.86) hours, respectively. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: On the basis of the results, concentrations of ketorolac in serum in cats were above the human effective concentrations for 5-6 hours postoperatively. However, other studies including a control group are advocated to further investigate the ketorolac kinetics and the analgesic efficacy in this species.

Clinical pharmacokinetics of tramadol and main metabolites in horses undergoing orchiectomy.

BACKGROUND: Tramadol is a synthetic codeine analogue used as an analgesic in human and veterinary medicine. It is not approved for use in horses, but could represent a valid tool for pain treatment in this species. OBJECTIVES: The serum pharmacokinetic profile and urinary excretion of tramadol and its metabolites (O-desmethyltramadol [M1], N-desmethyltramadol [M2] and N,O-desmethyltramadol [M5]) was investigated in a multidrug anaesthetic and analgesic approach for orchiectomy in horses. The evaluation of the degree of cardiovascular stability, the intraoperative effect and postoperative analgesia obtained by the visual analogue scale are also reported. Animal and methods: Tramadol (4 mg/kg BW) was administered intravenously to eight male yearlings as a bolus over 60 seconds, 5 min after intubation and 15 min prior to surgery. Drug quantification was performed in serum and urine for tramadol, M1, M2 and M5 by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection. RESULTS: Mean tramadol concentration was 14.87 ± 11.14 µg/mL at 0.08 h, and 0.05 ± 0.06 µg/mL at 10 h. Serum concentrations of M1 and M2 metabolites were quite limited. For M1 and M2, median maximum concentration (Cmax) and time to achieve maximum concentration (Tmax) were 0.05 µg/mL and 0.75 h, and 0.08 µg/mL and 2 h, respectively; M5 was never detected. In urine, tramadol was the most recovered compound, followed by M1, M2 and M5. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Showing no adverse events and based on the kinetic behaviour, pre-operative tramadol IV at a dose of 4 mg/kg BW might be useful and safe as analgesic in horses undergoing surgery.

Pharmacokinetics and perioperative efficacy of intravenous ketorolac in dogs.

Ketorolac (KET) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug approved for the use in humans that possesses a potent analgesic activity, comparable to morphine, and could represent a useful tool to control acute pain also in animals. The clinical efficacy and pharmacokinetic profile of intravenous (IV) ketorolac tromethamine (0.5 mg/kg) were studied in 15 dogs undergoing gonadectomy. Intra-operative cardiorespiratory variables were monitored, and post-operative pain was assessed using a subjective pain score (0-24) in all dogs, whereas the pharmacokinetic profile of the drug was determined in 10 animals. During surgery, mean minimal alveolar concentration of isoflurane was 1.69 ± 0.11%, and normocapnia and spontaneous ventilation were maintained in all animals. During pain assessment, no significant differences between males and females were found, and in no case rescue analgesia was necessary. No adverse effects were reported. Serum samples were purified by solid-phase extraction and analysed by HPLC with UV-Vis detection. A large variability was observed in serum concentrations. The kinetics of ketorolac was described by a noncompartmental analysis. The elimination half-life (t½λz ) and ClB were 10.95 ± 7.06 h and 92.66 ± 84.49 mL/h/kg, respectively, and Vdss and Vz were 1030.09 ± 620.50 mL/kg and 1512.25 ± 799.13 mL/kg, respectively. AUC(0→last) and MRT(0→last) were 6.08 ± 3.28 h × µg/mL and 5.59 ± 2.12 h, respectively. The results indicate that ketorolac possess good post-operative analgesic effects until about 6 h after administration in dogs undergoing moderately painful surgery.

Pharmacokinetics of ketamine and propofol combination administered as ketofol via continuous infusion in cats.

The pharmacokinetics of the extemporaneous combination of low doses of ketamine and propofol, known as 'ketofol', frequently used for emergency procedures in humans to achieve safe sedation and analgesia was studied in cats. The study was performed to assess propofol, ketamine and norketamine kinetics in six female cats that received ketamine and propofol (1:1 ratio) as a loading dose (2 mg/kg each, IV) followed by a continuous infusion (10 mg/kg/h each, IV, 25 min of length). Blood samples were collected during the infusion period and up to 24 h afterwards. Drug quantification was achieved by HPLC analysis using UV-visible detection for ketamine and fluorimetric detection for propofol. The pharmacokinetic parameters were deduced by a two-compartment bolus plus infusion model for propofol and ketamine and a monocompartmental model for norketamine. Additional data were derived by a noncompartmental analysis. Propofol and ketamine were quantifiable in most animals until 24 and 8 h after the end of infusion, respectively. Propofol showed a long elimination half-life (t(1/2λ2) 7.55 ± 9.86 h), whereas ketamine was characterized by shorter half-life (t(1/2λ2) 4 ± 3.4 h) owing to its rapid biotransformation into norketamine. The clinical significance of propofol's long elimination half-life and low clearance is negligible when the drug is administered as short-term and low-dosage infusion. The concurrent administration of ketamine and propofol in cats did not produce adverse effects although it was not possible to exclude interference in the metabolism.

Giant congenital nevi of the scalp and forehead treated by skin expansion.

Congenital giant melanocytic nevi of the scalp and forehead are rare lesions present at birth. These lesions are associated with risk of malignant transformation, but they primarily represent a psychological problem to both patient and parents and merit early excision and reconstruction. In this study we report our own experience: seven patients, aged 8 months to 9 years, with congenital pigmented nevi involving forehead and scalp, and a 4-year old patient with congenital pigmented nevus of periorbital region and nose were treated successfully with excision and expanded skin flap reconstructions. The mean expansion procedures were 2 (range, 1 to 3), with an average of 8,8 injections for each expansion procedure (range, 6 to 11). In only one patient simultaneous expanders were placed in the scalp and forehead. Follow-up ranged from 4 months to 15 years. We had no rupture, extrusion or infection of the skin expanders. Complications included eyebrow ptosis and asymmetry in two patients underwent correction at a final procedure. In our opinion tissue expansion is an excellent technique for the treatment of giant nevi of the scalp and forehead because it offers the best aesthetic and functional outcomes.

Effectiveness of electroacupuncture analgesia compared with opioid administration in a dog model: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Although opioid analgesics are the usual drugs to treat post-surgical pain, acupuncture has also been demonstrated to relieve various pain syndromes. The present pilot study aims to investigate the efficacy of electroacupuncture compared with a conventional opioid compound, butorphanol, for postoperative pain treatment in dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy. METHODS: Twelve dogs were randomly allocated into two groups. Dogs received either electroacupuncture stimulation (16 and 43 Hz) at Shen Shu, Chang Shu, He Gu, Tai Yuan, Zu San Li, Yang Ling Quan, and Bai Hui acupoints, while control dogs were treated with butorphanol. Cardiovascular and respiratory parameters were recorded for both groups during operation. Plasma ß-endorphin concentrations were evaluated before surgery (baseline) and up to 24 h later. For each dog, pain was measured according to a dedicated subjective pain scoring system. RESULTS: Plasma ß-endorphin levels in dogs receiving electroacupuncture increased significantly against baseline values after 1 and 3 h after surgery. Moreover, the end-tidal isoflurane concentration needed for second ovary traction was significantly lower in acupuncture-treated dogs than control animals. All animals having electroacupuncture experienced prolonged analgesia, over 24 h at least, while four out of six dogs treated with butorphanol needed post-surgical ketorolac and tramadol supplementation to their pain relief. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained from the present investigation showed some evidence for electroacupuncture as an alternative technique to provide postoperative analgesia in dogs.

Pharmacokinetics, intraoperative effect and postoperative analgesia of tramadol in cats.

Tramadol is a synthetic codeine analogue used as an analgesic in human and veterinary medicine, but not approved for use in cats. Tramadol (2 mg/kg) was administered intravenously (IV) as preoperative analgesic in 12 cats (6 males) undergoing surgical gonadectomy. The pharmacokinetic profile of the drug and its O-desmethyl metabolite were determined in 8 animals (4 males), while intraoperative effects and postoperative analgesia, estimated by subjective pain score (0-24), were evaluated in all. Mean intraoperative isoflurane consumption was reduced, but hypoventilation was not observed. Sex-related differences were not observed, particularly in terms of postoperative analgesia: rescue analgesic was never administered. Concentrations of the active O-desmethyl metabolite were persistently high in all the animals. Considering the results obtained in this study, tramadol, at the dose of 2 mg/kg IV, did not produce any evident intraoperative cardiorespiratory side effects and with additional investigation may prove to be an appropriate intraoperative analgesic in cats undergoing gonadectomy.

Tenoscopy of the navicular bursa: a new therapeutic approach for horses affected by "palmar pain syndrome." Endoscopic technique review and personal experiences.

Tenoscopy of the navicular bursa has been recently introduced as a diagnostic and therapeutic treatment in cases of palmar foot pain syndrome. A deep digital flexor tendon transthecal approach was suggested in 1999, and the endoscopic technique has been reviewed. Smith and coworkers have recently reported good and promising results. An anatomic cadaver limb study was performed, and the endoscopic technique was evaluated. Subsequently, a 14-year-old Argentine mare, affected by palmar foot pain syndrome, was treated. Clinical data, MRI and endoscopic findings, and a 6-month follow-up evaluation are reported.

The salvage of knee-exposed prosthesis using neurofasciocutaneous sural flap.

Prosthetic exposure is a severe complication of total knee arthroplasty. Many factors are responsible for failed wound healing, and successful salvage of total knee arthroplasty requires early identification of infection, antecedent events related with wound healing failure, aggressive surgical debridement and early appropriate soft-tissue coverage with local skin, fasciocutaneous, muscle, neurocutaneous or perforator flaps. In this report, we present 15 cases of exposed knee prosthesis treated with island sural neurocutaneous flap. Follow-up showed favorable clinical outcomes: all flaps survived and only two cases of hematoma and one of aseptic phystula occurred. According to our results, the island neurofasciocutaneous sural flap represents a sensate reconstructive alternative for providing fine and dependable soft tissue for covering skin defects around the knee.

Second toe transplantation to reconstruct digits.

In congenital absence of fingers or in post-traumatic amputations of the thumb or fingers, reconstruction by microsurgical toe-to-hand transfer is becoming a common treatment for these difficult problems. In case of congenital absence of the thumb, fingers, or both, these transfers can provide acceptable growth, function and sensation of the transferred toes with a current success rate usually greater than 95%. The most commonly transplanted toe is the second toe, since it is the longest toe and combines all the useful characteristics of a finger (such as joint, a nail, sensitive pulp tissue, and the ability to growth) with a good reliable blood supply. In this article, we discuss the rationale for this treatment approach, by considering the indications to treatment, the patient's preoperatory assessment, and the long-term results. We also report a case of a 4-year-old female child, suffering from congenital partial absence of second finger of the left hand, who underwent reconstruction by transfer of the second toes of foot.

The pollicization of the index finger in the aplasia of the thumb.

UNLABELLED: We have examined 11 patients with aplasia of the thumb and we have treated by pollicization of the index finger. We have conducted a follow up of 5 years. The total absence of the thumb may be an isolated anomaly, but it is often associated with some other congenital malformation. The absent thumb is as an autosomal dominant pathology or may be sporadic. It is frequently observed in the Holt-Oram syndrome, Fanconi's anemia, and ring D chromosome abnormalities. It is occasionally observed in the Rothmund syndrome, trisomy, thalidomide embryopathology and other congenital syndromes. An absent radius is almost always associated with an absent thumb, except in thrombocytopenia radial aplasia (Fanconi's syndrome), where the thumb is present even when the radius is absent. The treatment in most cases of the absent thumb is to perform a pollicization of the index finger. Our isolated congenital absence of the thumb patients have been treated with pollicization as described by Buck-Gramcko works well. It is a beautiful operation for the congenitally deformed, aplastic, or missing thumb. Pollicization of the index finger gives good functional and cosmetic results which are maintained. CONCLUSIONS: The total absence of the thumb in the congenitally pathology gives the hand of the patient insufficient in the functional movement and no cosmetic. So the pollicization with the second index fined gives a good reconstruction for the neo-thumb. In our five years follow-up, the 11 young patients that were treated with the pollicization, they are satisfy and use the neo-thumb like normal thumb. In congenitally absent thumbs clearly support the fact that the pollicized digit is used by most patients and is not ignored or bypassed.