Thin film occlusion of an intra-abdominal vein in cats.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the occlusion of an intra-abdominal vessel as a model of an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt by thin film banding in a controlled setting and to document histologically the perivascular region's response to thin film banding after 8 weeks. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study. ANIMALS: Six purpose-bred healthy domestic short hair cats. METHODS: Thin film bands were placed around the external iliac vein, with a sham procedure on the contralateral vessel. Closure rates were monitored via computed tomographic angiography (CTA) every 2 weeks for a total of 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, the vessels were resected, if possible, and submitted for histopathologic evaluation. RESULTS: All cats tolerated the procedure without surgical complications. Eight weeks after surgery, closure was evaluated as complete in one cat, marked in two cats, moderate in one cat, and mild in two cats according to CTA. Histological examination (in three cats) was consistent with chronic, multifocal, granulomatous inflammation with moderate fibrosis and collagen degeneration. CONCLUSION: Venous occlusion was inconsistent and often incomplete 8 weeks after thin film banding of the external iliac vein despite the presence of moderate to abundant perivascular fibrous tissue. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Vascular occlusion by thin film banding in cats is mainly incomplete after 2 months. This study supports the theory that high level of residual shunting may be expected in some cats after thin film banding.

Assessment of novel digital and smartphone goniometers for measurement of canine stifle joint angles.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate accuracy and reliability of 3 novel goniometers for measurement of canine stifle joint angles and compare the results with those obtained with a universal goniometer (UG). SAMPLE 8 pelvic limbs from 4 canine cadavers. PROCEDURES Each limb was secured to a wooden platform at 3 arbitrarily selected fixed stifle joint angles. Goniometry was performed with 2 smartphone-based applications (novel goniometers A and B), a digital goniometer (novel goniometer C), and a UG; 3 evaluators performed measurements in triplicate for each angle with each device. Results were compared with stifle joint angle measurements on radiographs (used as a gold standard). Accuracy was determined by calculation of bias and total error, coefficients of variation were calculated to estimate reliability, and strength of linear association between radiographic and goniometer measurements was assessed by calculation of correlation coefficients. RESULTS Mean coefficient of variation was lowest for the UG (4.88%), followed by novel goniometers B (7.37%), A (7.57%), and C (12.71%). Correlation with radiographic measurements was highest for the UG (r = 0.97), followed by novel goniometers B (0.93), A (0.90), and C (0.78). Constant bias was present for all devices except novel goniometer B. The UG and novel goniometer A had positive constant bias; novel goniometer C had negative constant bias. Total error at 50° and 100° angles was > 5% for all devices. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE None of the devices accurately represented radiographically measured stifle joint angles. Additional veterinary studies are indicated prior to the use of novel goniometers in dogs.