Comparison of the Ventral Approach to the Canine Hip Joint Using Gelpi Retractors and an Elastic O-Ring Wound Retractor.

This study included 10 fresh adult cadavers of large breed dogs (6 males and 4 females). Their weight ranged from 25 to 45 kg (mean ± SD: 33.9 ± 6.2 kg). The breeds represented were crossbreed dogs (n = 5), German shepherds (n = 2), Bernese mountain dogs (n = 1), American Staffordshire terriers (n = 1), and Gordon setters (n = 1). Access to the target area and identification of the femoral head and neck was achieved with two Gelpi retractors inserted orthogonally and with the O-WR in all procedures. In each dog, the approach to the hip joint was made on the left and right sides. There was no significant difference in the area of the surgical wound bed between the two sides using either the Gelpi retractors (-0.52 ± 1.87 cm2; CI 95%: -1.86, 0.81 cm2; p = 0.398) or the O-WR (-0.27 ± 2.34 cm2; CI 95%: -1.94, 1.41 cm2; p = 0.729). The area of the surgical wound bed was 6.28 ± 1.72 cm2 (2.72-9.70 cm2) for the Gelpi retractors and 6.34 ± 1.81 cm2 (4.13-10.77 cm2) for the O-WR, and the difference between the Gelpi retractors and the O-WR was not significant (-0.06 ± 1.72 cm2; CI 95%: -0.86, 0.74 cm2; p = 0.879).

Double-Wound O-Ring Retraction for Chylothorax Surgery in Dogs.

A suitable wound retraction is crucial for open surgical treatment of chylothorax in dogs. A single paracostal approach for transabdominal/transdiaphragmatic thoracic duct ligation and cisterna chyli ablation is an effective procedure. For the procedure, the use of stay sutures and handheld or automatic soft tissue retractors is recommended. However, it is often necessary to adjust the retractors several times during the surgery to provide sufficient exposure of the thoracic duct. This prolongs the operation and increases infection risk. In this report, we describe the modified application of two o-ring elastic wound retractors (O-WRs) in three large breed dogs with idiopathic chylothorax. We conclude that the O-WRs provide a static circumferential vision of the operation field and good access to the cisterna chyli, especially to the thoracic duct. The usage of other surgical instruments is not hampered by the O-WRs, and the elastic rings are not damaged by the metal instruments. Once placed in the diaphragmatic area, indeed, they do not require further manual retraction.

Rapid cardiac ischemia detection with an epicardial graphene probe.

Introduction: In this study, a new probe was designed to enable electrocardiography of a rotated heart during cardiac surgery when skin electrodes became non-functional. This probe adhered non-invasively to the epicardium and collected the ECG signal independently from the position of the heart. The study compared the accuracy of cardiac ischemia detection between classic skin and epicardial electrodes in an animal model. Methods: Using six pigs, an open chest model was devised with cardiac ischemia induction by coronary artery ligation in two non-physiologic heart positions. Both the accuracy and the time of detection of electrocardiographic symptoms of acute cardiac ischemia were compared between skin and epicardial methods of signal collection. Results: Heart rotation to expose either the anterior or the posterior wall resulted in a distortion or loss of the ECG signal collected by skin electrodes after coronary artery ligation, standard skin ECG monitoring did not reveal any ischemia symptoms. Attachment of an epicardial probe on the anterior and posterior walls helped in the recovery of the normal ECG wave. After ligation of the coronary artery, the epicardial probes recorded cardiac ischemia within 40 s. Discussion: This study highlighted the effectiveness of ECG monitoring with epicardial probes in a rotated heart. It can be concluded that epicardial probes can detect the presence of acute ischemia of a rotated heart when skin ECG monitoring becomes ineffective.

Three-Dimensional Models of Liver Vessels for Navigation during Laparotomic Attenuation of Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt in Dogs.

Laparotomic attenuation of an intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (IHPSS) is more difficult than an extrahepatic one, and results in a higher risk of complications because the identification of the aberrant vessel in the liver remains often a challenge. Excessive preparation and traction of the parenchyma results in trauma, bleeding, and prolonged surgery, which is what worsens the prognosis. Therefore, based on computed tomographic angiography, we printed 3-dimensional (3D) individual patient liver models, scaled 1:1, and used them for surgery planning and as a guide during intraoperative identification of the shunt in four dogs with IHPSS. The advantages of the 3D technology are simple and precise planning of the surgery, fast intraoperative identification of the shunt, and low invasive dissection of the liver parenchyma. We conclude that 3D technology can potentially raise the recovery rate. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first application of 3D models in the surgery of canine IHPSS.

The Intersection of Human and Veterinary Medicine-A Possible Direction towards the Improvement of Cell Therapy Protocols in the Treatment of Perianal Fistulas.

The effective treatment of perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease is still a challenge. Local administration of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) is becoming a part of accepted treatment options. However, as a fledgling technique, it still can be optimized. A new trend in translational research, which is in line with "One Health" approach, bases on exploiting parallels between naturally occurring diseases affecting humans and companion animals. Canine anal furunculosis (AF) has been indicated as condition analogous to human perianal Crohn's disease (pCD). This narrative review provides the first comprehensive comparative analysis of these two diseases based on the published data. The paper also outlines the molecular mechanisms of action of MSCs which are likely to have a role in modulating the perianal fistula niche in humans, and refers them to the current knowledge on the immunomodulatory properties of canine MSCs. Generally, the pathogenesis of both diseases shares main determinants such as the presence of genetic predispositions, dysregulation of immune response and the relation to intestine microbiota. However, we also identified many aspects which should be further specified, such as determining the frequency of true fistulas formation in AF patients, elucidating the role of TNF and Th17 pathway in the pathogenesis of AF, or clarifying the role of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition phenomenon in the formation of canine fistulae. Nevertheless, the available data support the hypothesis that the results from testing cell therapies in dogs with anal furunculosis have a significant translational value in optimizing MSC transplants procedures in pCD patients.

Retrospective Liver Histomorphological Analysis in Dogs in Instances of Clinical Suspicion of Congenital Portosystemic Shunt.

INTRODUCTION: The clinical symptoms of portosystemic shunts (PSSs) and hepatic microvascular dysplasia (HMD) - portal vein hypoplasia (PVH) in dogs are similar. PSSs are abnormal vascular connections between the portal vein system and systemic veins. HMD is a very rare developmental vascular anomaly, recognisable during histopathological examination. The study aim was to assess the prevalence of HMD-PVH and hepatocellular and vascular pathologies in the liver. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Liver biopsies from 140 dogs (of different breeds and both sexes) arousing clinical suspicion of PSS were examined histopathologically. RESULTS: An initial PSS diagnosis was confirmed in 125 dogs (89.29%). HMD-PVH was found in 12.32% of dogs, as an isolated disease in 9.29%, especially in Yorkshire terriers, and with extrahepatic PSS in 6.67%. Histopathological analysis of muscles around sublobular veins showed that HMD cases presented hypertrophy or hypertrophy with fibrosis. In 2.17% of all dogs with liver vascular developmental disorders calcification was visible around vessels (without correlation by degenerative changes in those vessels), suggesting prior onset of deep metabolic disorders. Clinical suspicion of PSS was also formed upon quite different pathological processes in young dogs. CONCLUSION: Histopathological findings diagnosed the type of vascular anomalies (PSS or HMD-PVH) or other pathological changes conclusively, therefore detailed hepatic histopathology is an indispensable component of the clinical diagnostic process.