A retrospective evaluation of the effect of oclacitinib (Apoquel) administration on development of surgical site infection following clean orthopedic stifle surgery.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of oclacitinib (Apoquel) on development of surgical site infections in canines following clean orthopedic stifle surgery. Medical records of dogs undergoing unilateral, clean orthopedic stifle procedures were retrospectively examined for development of post-operative surgical site infections. Data collected for statistical analysis included age, sex, body weight, current medications, anesthesia and surgery times, white blood cell count, and neutrophil count. Surgical site infections were identified in 8.7% (34/390) of stifle procedures- 8.0% (29/364) in dogs not treated with oclacitinib and 19.2% (5/26) in dogs treated with oclacitinib (p = 0.053). There was a significant difference in development of surgical site infection in dogs with longer anesthesia times (p = 0.003) and higher body weights (p = 0.037). Dogs being treated with oclacitinib at the time of clean, orthopedic stifle surgery did not have a significantly higher incidence of surgical site infections. However, client education regarding risk of infection and increased patient monitoring post-operatively are recommended, especially in patients with increased body weight or longer anesthetic times.

Effects of a novel, 3D printed bilateral arytenoid abductor on canine laryngeal airway resistance ex vivo.

BACKGROUND: Laryngeal paralysis is a disease process most commonly seen in older, large breed dogs. When both arytenoid cartilages are affected dogs can develop life-threatening respiratory compromise, therefore surgical intervention is recommended. While there are multiple surgical procedures that have been described to treat laryngeal paralysis, there remains a considerable risk for postoperative complications, most commonly aspiration pneumonia. The objective of this ex vivo experimental study was to evaluate the effects of a novel, 3D printed bilateral arytenoid abductor on laryngeal airway resistance in canine cadaver larynges. Laryngeal airway resistance was calculated for each specimen before (control) and after placement of a 3D printed, bilateral arytenoid abductor. The airway resistance was measured at an airflow of 10 L/min with the epiglottis closed and at airflows ranging from 15 L/min to 60 L/min with the epiglottis open. The effects of the bilateral arytenoid abductor on laryngeal airway resistance were evaluated statistically. RESULTS: With the epiglottis open, median laryngeal airway resistance in all larynges with a bilateral arytenoid abductor were significantly decreased at airflows of 15 L/min (0.0cmH2O/L/sec), 30 L/min (0.2cmH2O/L/sec), and 45 L/min (0.2cmH2O/L/sec) compared to the controls 15 L/min (0.4cmH2O/L/sec; P = 0.04), 30 L/min (0.9cmH2O/L/sec; P = 0.04), and 45 L/min (1.2cmH2O/L/sec; P = 0.04). When the epiglottis was closed, there was no significant difference in laryngeal resistance between the control (18.8cmH2O/L/sec) and the abducted larynges (18.1cmH2O/L/sec; P = 0.83). CONCLUSIONS: Placement of a bilateral arytenoid abductor reduced laryngeal resistance in canine cadaver larynges compared to the controls when the epiglottis was open. With the epiglottis closed, there was no loss of laryngeal resistance while the device abducted the arytenoid cartilages. The results of this ex vivo study is encouraging for consideration of further evaluation of the bilateral arytenoid abductor to determine an appropriate material and tolerance of this device in vivo.

Efficacy of laparotomy sponges to reduce bacterial contamination using an in vitro gastrointestinal surgery model.

Use of laparotomy sponges to protect abdominal viscera during gastrointestinal surgery is described in nonspecific terms by various sources, but no definitive guidelines have been established in veterinary literature. The objective of this study was to compare the in vitro efficacy of various layer-densities of laparotomy sponges at reducing bacterial contamination from multiple contaminant volumes during multiple exposure times. A standardized Escherichia coli inoculum water solution was applied over sterile laparotomy sponges overlying blood agar plates. Four laparotomy sponge layer-densities, 4 volumes of E. coli inoculum water solution, and 4 exposure times were evaluated. All blood agar plates were incubated for 48 hours followed by surface area measurements of colonization of each blood agar plate at 24 and 48 hours. The procedure was repeated thrice. Bacterial colonization occurred on 100% (192/192) of inoculated blood agar plates. There was a statistically significant decrease in colonized area with increasing layer-density of laparotomy sponges (P<0.0001). Comparison between the layer-density of sponges were statistically significant in resulting infected area (P<0.01), except comparison between 6- and 8-layers (P = 0.9490). Colonized area was not significantly altered by time of exposure. Results suggested that increasing the layer-density of laparotomy sponges has significant effect on reducing strikethrough bacterial colonization in an in vitro model. The results of this study can be used when performing gastrointestinal surgery to help guide laparotomy sponge use to reduce peritoneal bacterial contamination.