Perspectives of vets on plastics in veterinary medicine.

INTRODUCTION: The use of disposable plastics and their subsequent environmental impacts are topics of increasing concern in modern society. Medical, including veterinary, sectors are major contributors to plastic waste production. While there is an existing body of literature on the use and reduction of disposable plastics in the human medical sector, few studies, if any, have specifically investigated the use of plastics within the veterinary field. The overall aim of this pilot study was to investigate Australian veterinarians regarding their attitudes toward the ways in which they use disposable plastic in their work and personal lives. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven veterinarians were interviewed, representing a range of demographics and professional backgrounds from multiple states. Thematic qualitative analysis was employed to organise the data into several major themes encompassing many smaller nodes. RESULTS: The dataset revealed that most, if not all, veterinarians interviewed agree that disposable plastic is used in excess in veterinary medicine, but that veterinarians will never be able to avoid using plastic entirely. Participants supplied differing opinions with respect to the best strategies for reducing plastic waste production within the veterinary field, including recycling, replacing disposable items or improving education. DISCUSSION: Despite different participants suggesting conflicting ideas, most, if not all, of the ideas presented have support in the scientific literature. This supports a hybrid approach involving refining recycling systems, reducing plastic consumption and improving education on plastic waste production. A hybrid top-down-bottom-up approach must include encouraging cooperation among stakeholders, both within and outside the veterinary sector, as this will be a major contributor to progress. In a broader context, this hybrid approach to inciting change at all levels of the veterinary sector will require engagement from many interdependent entities; as such, this study should act as a starting point for an ongoing process of cooperative change. Recommendations for future research include life cycle analyses of reusable versus disposable veterinary materials; exploring ways to expand sustainability education within and beyond the veterinary sector, and examining methods of improving technology and infrastructure.

[Neurological complications in children with congenital cyanotic heart disease (author's transl)]. / NEurologische Komplikationen bei Kindern mit zyanotischen Herzfehlern. Häufigkeit, Pathogenese und mögliche Risikofaktoren.

Figures of incidence and risk factors of neurological complications (NC) endangering children with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) are very different. We examined 308 children with CCHD over an 8 years' period finding 39 cases (= 12,7) of NC. There were 5 hypoxic attacks and 3 brain abscesses. In 31 patients a cerebro-vascular accident was proven or probable. 56% of NC occured during the first year of life, most frequently in children with simple TGA. Mortality was not influenced by NC. Children without NC, surviving the first year of life represent the control group for comparison of the following hematologic parameters: erythrocytes, hematocrit, MCHC, hemoglobin, O2-saturation, platelets count. Only the last two were significantly lower in patients with NC, but no parameter allows to predict NC. The hypothesis of hypochromic, microcytic anemia as essential pathogenetic factor for cerebro-vascular accidents has no base in our material.