Estimation of the intraoperative blood loss in dogs undergoing enucleation.

PURPOSE: To quantify the surgical blood loss during canine enucleation and to investigate the relationship between this and any patient, surgical, and anesthetic factors. METHODS: A prospective observational analysis was conducted on 121 client-owned dogs (130 eyes) undergoing enucleation at a referral ophthalmology clinic. Blood loss was estimated by the gravimetric method (weight difference between dry and blood-containing surgical materials) to provide absolute blood loss (ABL) in milliliters, expressed as a percentage of circulating blood volume, to establish relative blood loss (RBL). RESULTS: Median ABL was 12 ml (1.6-116 ml), and median RBL was 1.3% (0.1%-6.7%). A higher RBL was associated with the following: use of a bupivacaine splash block versus retrobulbar nerve block (1.9 vs. 1%; p < .001), transpalpebral versus subconjunctival approach (2.2 vs. 1.3%; p = .003), and small versus large breed dogs (1.7% vs. 1.1%; p = .001). Both ABL and RBL differed significantly between surgeons. There was no significant difference in hemorrhage associated with the presence of ocular hypertension, systemic illness, surgical time, administration of meloxicam or choice of pre-medicant (acepromazine vs medetomidine). No dog required supportive intervention in response to surgical hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: This study has established a surgical blood loss estimate for dogs undergoing enucleation at an ophthalmology referral centre. Subconjunctival enucleation may be preferred for patients at greater risk of haemodynamic complications.

Lower lid entropion in dogs: A modified technique of the combined Hotz-Celsus and wedge resection procedure.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to describe a modification of the combined Hotz-Celsus and wedge resection technique for the treatment of lower lid entropion in dogs and evaluate its success rate. METHODS: To reduce tissue trauma, facilitate tissue handling and shorten the surgical time, shortening of the eyelid was performed by excising a rectangular piece of the eyelid margin only, in the central section, extending to but not below the first Hotz-Celsus incision. The eyelid margin surgical wound was then sutured before excision of the Hotz-Celsus crescent which had been surgically scored at the start of surgery. Records of 31 dogs were reviewed for signalment, outcome, need for further surgery, and follow up from 6 to 48 months after surgery. RESULTS: Sixty-one eyes with lower lid entropion were treated. The most common breeds were English bulldog and English cocker spaniel and the median age was 16 months. The success rate for a single entropion correction surgery was 98.4%. One eyelid required a second surgical correction and four eyelids of three large breed dogs had wound breakdown. CONCLUSIONS: This modified technique is successful at correcting lower eyelid entropion associated with overlong eyelid length in dogs while being technically easier to perform.

Uveal cysts in domestic cats: a retrospective evaluation of thirty-six cases.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate uveal cysts in domestic cats by identifying prevalence, predispositions, location, presumed etiologies, and sequelae. ANIMALS STUDIED: The clinical databases of two referral hospitals (The Animal Health Trust in the UK and Animal Eye Care in Australia) were searched to identify cats that had been diagnosed with uveal cysts, either as an incidental finding or as the reason for referral. Thirty-six cases were found. PROCEDURES: The signalment of the patients was recorded, along with any relevant previous clinical history, treatment, follow-up, and sequela. The data were compared with the unaffected feline populations examined by ophthalmologists in the two hospitals over the same 10-year time period. RESULTS: Thirty-six cats were affected, from a total examined population of 5017 (prevalence 0.72%). Twenty-one of the 36 cats were Burmese. The two centers examined 516 Burmese cats in the same time period, giving an incidence in Burmese cats of 4.1%. The mean age of affected cats at presentation was 10.25 years (SD = 4.12 years), and female cats accounted for 23 of 36 of the cases. Only 2 of 36 cats had concurrent intraocular disease. CONCLUSIONS: Uveal cysts in domestic cats are rare ophthalmic findings, and in most cases, they do not cause any clinical problems The Burmese breed is overrepresented in the data, with a relatively high prevalence of uveal cysts.

Surgical management and outcome of lower eyelid entropion in 124 cats.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the success rate of various surgical techniques for the management of lower eyelid entropion in cats. DESIGN: Retrospective study. Animals studied One hundred and twenty-four cats with surgical correction of lower eyelid entropion of 200 eyes over a 13 year period. METHODS: Records of 124 cats were reviewed for signalment, type of entropion, surgical procedure performed and post-operative result. RESULTS: Combinations of the Hotz-Celsus (HC), lateral canthal closure and full thickness wedge resection techniques were used to treat 64 bilateral and 60 unilateral cases of lower lid entropion. Twenty-three cats were under a year of age, 52 cats were aged between 2 and 8 years and 49 were over 8 years old. The overall success rate for a single surgical procedure (which may consist of multiple techniques) to correct lower eyelid entropion was 96.0% per eye. The remaining 4.0% had the entropion resolved with a second surgery. A combined HC and lateral canthal closure had a 99.21% success rate of resolving lower lid entropion. Geriatric cats were the most likely age group to develop corneal sequestra; 37% of cats in this group presented with entropion and corneal sequestra concurrently. Seventeen percent of cats that presented with unilateral entropion and did not have prophylactic surgery on the fellow eye went on to develop entropion in the fellow eye. CONCLUSIONS: A combined HC and lateral canthal closure was the most effective surgical technique in managing lower eyelid entropion of cats in our study. Prophylactic lateral canthal closure in the unaffected eye is recommended.

Schirmer tear tests and intraocular pressures in conscious and anesthetized koalas (Phascolarctus cinereus).

OBJECTIVE: To estimate mean Schirmer tear test (STT) and intraocular pressure (IOP) values in healthy koalas both conscious and anesthetized. METHODS: Data were gathered from koalas in Victoria, Australia. Conscious examinations were performed on captive koalas. Free-ranging (wild) koalas were examined under anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced using alfaxalone, and animals were maintained on oxygen and isoflurane if required. All animals were healthy and had no surface ocular pathology detectable during slit lamp biomicroscopy. STT I tests were performed using commercial STT test strips placed in the lower fornix for 1 min. IOP was measured using an applanation tonometer after topical anesthesia. The higher value of the two eyes for both STT and IOP was analyzed. STT was measured in 53 koalas (34 conscious, 19 anesthetized) and IOP was measured in 43 koalas (30 conscious, 13 anesthetized). A two-sample t-test was used to compare means. A P-value <0.05 was regarded as significant. Mean ± SD is presented. RESULTS: The mean higher STT in conscious koalas was 10.3 ± 3.6 mm wetting/min and in anesthetized koalas it decreased to 3.8 ± 4.0 mm wetting/min (P < 0.0001). The mean higher IOP in conscious koalas was 15.3 ± 5.1 mmHg, and in anesthetized koalas it was 13.8 ± 3.4 mmHg (P = 0.32). There was no effect of sex on either STT or IOP. CONCLUSIONS: The mean and SD of STT and IOP values for koalas both conscious and anesthetized were reported. The mean STT was significantly reduced by alfaxalone anesthesia.

Repair of a scleral defect with an autogenous fascia lata graft in a dog.

A case of a traumatic scleral rupture with uveal herniation in a dog was treated with an autogenous fascia lata graft. Placement of the graft resolved the uveal prolapse and resulted in return of strength and a more normal structure. Fascia lata appears to be an effective scaffolding graft for the repair of scleral defects. It is cheap, easily harvested and large grafts may be obtained. Healing was rapid and the end result was a cosmetic, comfortable, fully functional eye.

Keratomycosis in a dog treated with topical 1% voriconazole solution.

A 2-year-old Jack Russell Terrier was presented for treatment of a worsening corneal ulcer and keratomalacia following removal of a vegetative foreign body. The keratomalacia responded to topical gentamicin therapy; however, the eye became suddenly painful and at examination two areas of increased opacity had developed. Fungal keratitis was demonstrated by corneal scrape showing branching, septate fungal hyphae. Treatment with 1% voriconazole was effective in resolving the keratomycosis.