Retrospective case-control non-inferiority analysis of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block in dogs undergoing mini-hemilaminectomy for intervertebral disc disease.

BACKGROUND: Veterinary medicine has seen significant advancements in locoregional anaesthesia and pain management, including the emergence of the erector spinae plane (ESP) block. However, limited clinical evidence exists on its efficacy and safety. OBJECTIVES: This study compares ultrasound-guided ESP block (ESP group) with an intraoperative intravenous ketamine infusion analgesic protocol (CRI group) in dogs undergoing thoracolumbar mini-hemilaminectomy, focusing on intraoperative opioid consumption, cardiovascular response to surgical stimulation (CR), postoperative pain scores (PS), and postoperative opioid consumption. METHODS: Retrospective, case-control, non-inferiority study conducted in a single centre. Data collected included demographics, bupivacaine dose, ESP block operator, intraoperative recorded variables (haemodynamic variables, CR, complications, rescue analgesia), pre- and postoperative analgesia, 24-hour PS and opioid administration, first food intake post-extubation and postoperative complications. Univariate and multiple regression analyses were applied. RESULTS: One-hundred dogs were included, 75 in the ESP group and 25 in the CRI group. Univariate analysis revealed no significant differences between treatment groups in terms of CR, PS, postoperative rescue analgesia, intraoperative and postoperative opioid consumption, or time to first meal intake. However, the multivariate regression analysis indicated that dogs receiving ketamine infusion had higher CR suspected to be nociception-related (p = 0.036), and higher postoperative opioid consumption (p = 0.013). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that ultrasound-guided ESP block is as effective as intraoperative ketamine infusion providing perioperative analgesia in dogs undergoing thoracolumbar mini-hemilaminectomy for intervertebral disc disease. ESP group showed significantly lower CR suspected to be nociception-related intraoperatively and lower postoperative opioid consumption within the initial 24 hours.

Sedative effects of dexmedetomidine, dexmedetomidine-pethidine and dexmedetomidine-butorphanol in cats.

The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical effects of dexmedetomidine, both alone and combined with pethidine or butorphanol, in cats. A prospective randomized blind study was performed. Thirty cats were randomly assigned to three groups of 10 animals: D: dexmedetomidine (20 µg/kg IM); DP: dexmedetomidine (10 µg/kg IM) and pethidine (2.5 mg/kg IM); DB: dexmedetomidine (10 µg/kg IM) and butorphanol (0.4 mg/kg IM). Quality of sedation, analgesia, muscle relaxation and the possibility of performing some clinical procedures were compared using a multifactorial scale. Sedation, analgesia and muscle relaxation increased progressively over time and did not differ in the three protocols. The three protocols facilitated the completion of several clinical procedures. The clinical variables studied showed a similar behaviour in the three protocols and remained close to the baseline, except for a drop in heart rate in protocol D. In conclusion, dexmedetomidine, either alone or combined with pethidine or butorphanol, offers suitable sedation, analgesia and relaxation to perform various clinical procedures in cats.

Description of ovine model for testing ventilator prototypes in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a ventilator deficit in the global health system for this scenario. For this reason, several national and international projects have been developed to get done prototypes of ventilators which could be easy and fast to manufacture. One of the requirements of the AEMPS for conducting clinical studies with new prototypes is through the validation of these new prototypes in an animal model. Therefore, it is important to achieve an animal model which allows us to easily reproduce different clinical scenarios. In this article, we describe the use of a sheep as a research model to assess a prototype ventilator. The animal was anesthetized for 10 h in which the prototype was tested in up to 6 different scenarios. This model is effective and easy to reproduce, making it an excellent choice for this kind of research.

Description of ovine model for testing ventilator prototypes in the COVID-19 pandemic. / Descripción de un modelo ovino para la prueba de ventiladores de urgencia en la pandemia de COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed a ventilator deficit in the global health system for this scenario. For this reason, several national and international projects have been developed to get done prototypes of ventilators which could be easy and fast to manufacture. One of the requirements of the AEMPS for conducting clinical studies with new prototypes is through the validation of these new prototypes in an animal model. Therefore, it is important to achieve an animal model which allows us to easily reproduce different clinical scenarios. In this article, we describe the use of a sheep as a research model to assess a prototype ventilator. The animal was anesthetized for 10hours in which the prototype was tested in up to 6different scenarios. This model is effective and easy to reproduce, making it an excellent choice for this kind of research.

Surgical management of a traumatic dislocation of the sternum in an English bulldog.

A nine-year-old English bulldog presented with an acute history of dyspnoea, tachycardia and discomfort localising to the ventral thorax following a fall down the stairs that morning. After the dog was stabilised, thoracic radiographs revealed a luxation of the third and fourth sternebrae with dorsal displacement of the caudal segment. The sternum was reduced and stabilised with a contoured 12-hole 3 · 5-mm dynamic compression plate applied to the ventral surface of the sternum. The dog's initial recovery was rapid, cardiorespiratory parameters returning to normal in the first 24 hours. For 2 weeks postoperatively the dog exhibited difficulty in rising from a prone position. After this time there was a full recovery. Clinical examination at 8 months postoperatively did not reveal any abnormalities. Telephone follow-up was performed at 18 months and no complications or cardiorespiratory compromise were reported. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of a traumatic dislocation of the sternum and its management in the dog.

Propofol or thiopentone as induction agents in romifidine-sedated and halothane-N2O-anesthetized dogs: a preliminary study.

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the use of romifidine as a premedicant in dogs before general anesthesia induced with propofol or thiopentone and maintained with halothane-N2O. Fifteen healthy dogs were anesthetized twice. Each dog received, as preanesthetic protocol, atropine (10 microg/kg, IM) and romifidine (40 microg/kg, IM); induction was delivered with propofol or thiopentone and anesthesia was maintained with halothane and N2O for 1 h. Some cardiovascular and respiratory variables and recovery times were recorded. Induction doses of propofol or thiopentone and the percentage of halothane necessary for maintaining anesthesia were also registered. Thiopentone as an induction agent is more respiratory depressive but is less hypotensive than propofol. Thiopentone reduces further the percentage of halothane necessary for maintaining the anesthesia. However, the quality of recovery is poorer, as the time to extubation is longer and the dogs occasionally had a violent recovery. The combination of romifidine, atropine, propofol, halothane, and N2O appears to be an effective combination for inducing and maintaining general anesthesia in healthy dogs.

Romifidine, medetomidine or xylazine before propofol-halothane-N2O anesthesia in dogs.

The objective of this paper was to evaluate romifidine as a premedicant in dogs prior to propofol-halothane-N2O anesthesia, and to compare it with the other alpha2-agonists (medetomidine and xylazine). For this, ten healthy dogs were anesthetized. Each dog received 3 preanesthetic protocols: atropine (10 microg/kg BW, IM), and as a sedative, romifidine (ROM; 40 microg/kg BW, IM), xylazine (XYL; 1 microg/kg, IM), or medetomidine (MED; 20 microg/kg BW, IM). Induction of anesthesia was delivered with propofol 15 min later and maintained with halothane and N2O for one hour in all cases. The following variables were registered before preanesthesia, 10 min after the administration of preanesthesia, and at 5-minute intervals during maintenance: PR, RR, rectal temperature (RT), MAP, SAP, and DAP. During maintenance, arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2), end-tidal CO2 (EtCO2) and percentage of halothane necessary for maintaining anesthesia (%HAL) were also recorded. Induction dose of propofol (DOSE), time to extubation (TE), time to sternal recumbency (TSR) and time to standing (TS) were also registered. The statistical analysis was carried out during the anesthetic period. ANOVA for repeat measures revealed no differences between the 3 groups for PR and RR; however, MAP, SAP and DAP were higher in the MED group; SpO2 was lower in MED and EtCO2 was lower in ROM; %HAL was higher in XYL. No statistical differences were observed in DOSE, TE, TSR or TS. Percentage of halothane was lower in romifidine and medetomidine than in xylazine premedicated dogs also anesthetized with propofol. All the cardiorespiratory variables measured were within normal limits. The studied combination of romifidine, atropine, propofol, halothane and N2O appears to be a safe and effective drug combination for inducing and maintaining general anesthesia in healthy dogs.

Fluorangiographic alterations in a dog with suspected iatrogenic partial carotid artery occlusion.

During routine fluorescein angiography, a healthy female dog demonstrated abnormal delayed filling of retinal and choroidal vessels. Fluorangiographic times were increased four- to fivefold with respect to reference values. Fluorescein angiography, using the same protocol, was repeated two weeks later and a fluorangiogram within reference values was obtained. The abnormal results in the first procedure were suspected to have resulted from partial occlusion of the carotid artery secondary to the restraining method used.

[Serologic study of vertically transmitted infections in pregnant women attending 3 health centers in Jaén]. / Estudio serológico de las infecciones de transmisión vertical en las mujeres embarazadas controladas en tres centros de salud de Jaén.

BACKGROUND: Studying serological tests into syphilis, German measles, toxoplasma and hepatitis B requested as part of the monitoring of pregnant women and analysing the different activities in the face of the findings. METHODS: A descriptive study. A systematic random process was used to select (1/3) 299 cases of women whose pregnancy had been monitored between 1991 and 1993 in three health centres in Jaen (capital of the province of the same name), which have a catchment population of 66,423 inhabitants. We analyse the differences between the centres using the Chi squared test. RESULTS: A serology of syphilis (R.P.R.) was conducted on 269 pregnant women (90% Standard Error (S.E.): 1.7) all of which proved negative; German measles (ELISA Immunoglobulin (Ig) G, toxoplasm (FIAX IgG and IgM) and (HBsAg in 92% (S.E.: 1.6) German measles antibodies being found in 98% (S.E.: 0.8), the HBsAg proving negative in 99% (S.E.: 0.6) and immunity to toxoplasm existing in 13% (S.E.:2). When the data were analysed, being broken down into the different health centres, notable differences were observed (p > 0.04) in the case of German measles. In the five cases were German measles proved negative, the serology was not repeated once, and on two occasions it was the second pregnancy. They do not appear in the history of preventive medicine. Treatment with spiromycine was initiated for toxoplasmosis, and it lasted for 10 to 21 days for five of the cases, but the infection was not confirmed once, and for two of these it was only determined serologically. CONCLUSIONS: Both the percentage of requests for the first serology and the prevalence are consistent with literature on the subject, with the exception of toxoplasm, whose immunity prevalence was much lower than in other zones. The actions taken in the face of certain results were rather inadequate.

[Pneumococcal vaccine recommendations in chronic respiratory diseases]. / Recomendación de la vacuna antineumocócica en las enfermedades respiratorias crónicas.

Community-acquired pneumonia is an acute respiratory infectious disease which has an incidence of 3-8 cases/1,000 inhabitants, and increases with age and comorbidities. The pneumococcus is the organism most frequently involved in community-acquired pneumonia in the adult (30-35%). Around 40% of patients with community-acquired pneumonia require hospital admission, and around 10% need to be admitted to an intensive care unit. The most serious forms of pneumococcal infection include invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), which covers cases of bacteremia (associated or not to pneumonia), meningitis, pleuritis, arthritis, primary peritonitis and pericarditis. Currently, the biggest problem with the pneumococcus is the emergence of resistance to antimicrobial agents, and its high morbimortality, despite the use of appropriate antibiotics and proper medical treatment. Certain underlying medical conditions increase the risk of IPD and its complications, especially, from the respiratory diseases point of view, smoking and chronic respiratory diseases. Pneumococcal disease, according to the WHO, is the first preventable cause of death worldwide in children and adults. Among the strategies to prevent IPD is vaccination. WHO considers that its universal introduction and implementation against pneumococcus is essential and a priority in all countries. There are currently 2 pneumococcal vaccines for adults: the 23 serotypes polysaccharide and conjugate 13 serotypes. The scientific societies represented here have worked to develop some recommendations, based on the current scientific evidence, regarding the pneumococcal vaccination in the immunocompetent adult with chronic respiratory disease and smokers at risk of suffering from IPD.

Retrospective study of the prevalence of postanaesthetic hypothermia in cats.

A retrospective study of 275 anaesthetic records of cats was undertaken to examine the prevalence of postanaesthetic hypothermia, its clinical predictors and consequences. Temperature was recorded throughout anaesthesia. The temperature reached at the end was classified as hyperthermia (>39.50 °C), normothermia (38.50 to 39.50 °C), slight hypothermia (38.49 to 36.50 °C), moderate hypothermia (36.49 to 34.00 °C) or severe hypothermia (<34.00 °C). Statistical analysis consisted of multiple regression to identify the factors that affect the temperature at the end of the procedure. Before premedication, the mean (sd) temperature was 38.2 (1.0) °C. At 60, 120 and 180 minutes from induction, the temperature was 35.4 (1.4) °C, 35.0 (1.5) °C and 34.6 (1.5) °C, respectively. The prevalence of hypothermia was slight 26.5 per cent (95 per cent CI 21.7 to 32.0 per cent), moderate 60.4 per cent (95 per cent CI 54.5 to 66.0 per cent) and severe 10.5 per cent (95 per cent CI 7.4 to 14.7 per cent). The variables associated with a decrease in the temperature recorded at the end of anaesthesia were the duration of anaesthesia, the reason for anaesthesia (abdominal and orthopaedic surgeries significantly reduced the temperature when compared with minor procedures) and the anaesthetic risk (high-risk cats showed lower temperatures than low-risk cats). The temperature before premedication was associated with an increase in the final temperature.

Retrospective study of the prevalence of postanaesthetic hypothermia in dogs.

The anaesthetic records of 1525 dogs were examined to determine the prevalence of postanaesthetic hypothermia, its clinical predictors and consequences. Temperature was recorded throughout the anaesthesia. At the end of the procedure, details coded in were: hyperthermia (>39.50°C), normothermia (38.50°C-39.50°C), slight (38.49°C-36.50°C), moderate (36.49°C-34.00°C) and severe hypothermia (<34.00°C). Statistical analysis consisted of multiple regression to identify the factors that are associated with the temperature at the end of the procedure. Before premedication, the temperature was 38.7 ± 0.6°C (mean ± sd). At 60, 120 and 180 minutes from induction, the temperature was 36.7 ± 1.3°C, 36.1 ± 1.4°C and 35.8 ± 1.5°C, respectively. The prevalence of hypothermia was: slight, 51.5 per cent (95 per cent CI 49.0 to 54.0 per cent); moderate, 29.3 per cent (27.1-31.7 per cent) and severe: 2.8% (2.0-3.7%). The variables that associated with a decrease in the temperature recorded at the end of the anaesthesia were: duration of the preanesthetic time, duration of the anaesthesia, physical condition (ASA III and ASA IV dogs showed lower temperatures than ASA I dogs), the reason for anaesthesia (anaesthesia for diagnostic procedures or thoracic surgery reduce the temperature when compared with minor procedures), and the recumbency during the procedure (sternal and dorsal recumbencies showed lower temperatures than lateral recumbency). The temperature before premedication and the body surface (BS) were associated with a higher temperature at the end of the anaesthesia, and would be considered as protective factors.

Relationship between progesterone, oestrone sulphate and cortisol and the components of renin angiotensin aldosterone system in Spanish purebred broodmares during pregnancy.

The coordinated interaction of the components of the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) with reproductive hormones such as progesterone, oestrogens and cortisol during pregnancy has been widely reported to play a vital role in foetal and placental development in various species, significantly influencing the proper achievement of pregnancy and foetal viability at birth. These interactions have not yet been clarified in mares. Thus, the purpose of the present research was to analyse the relationship between cortisol (CORT), progesterone (P4) and oestrone sulphate (OESTRONE), and the components of the RAAS, renin (REN), angiotensin II (ANG-II) and aldosterone (ALD) concentrations in Spanish broodmares during pregnancy. Venous blood samples were obtained monthly from a total of 31 Purebred Spanish broodmares aged between 5 and 15 years during the 11 months of pregnancy. Plasma and serum REN, ANG-II, ALD, P4, OESTRONE and CORT concentrations were analysed by competitive immunoassay. Pregnancy in Purebred Spanish broodmares is characterised by a progressive increase in REN and ALD, a decrease in CORT levels, variable fluctuations in P4 and OESTRONE and no variations in ANG-II concentrations (P < 0.05). Serum P4 was not correlated with either ALD or CORT. The OESTRONE and REN levels were not correlated, while OESTRONE and ALD showed a positive correlation (r = 0.16; P < 0.05). These results suggest that the sustained stimulation of the RAAS in normal pregnancy in Spanish broodmares is not totally dependent on the changes in P4 and CORT concentrations, despite the involvement of OESTRONE in the secretion of ALD. This brings into question the possible involvement of oestrogen in the secretion of ALD by a mechanism which is not exclusively dependent on REN. Consequently, at physiological levels, OESTRONE is not the only stimulus for REN synthesis, and the mineralocorticoids ALD and CORT do not show a competitive mechanism with P4 during pregnancy in mares. Other mechanisms which do not depend on these hormones should be considered in the modification of the RAAS during pregnancy in Spanish mares.

Normal values and incidence of cardiorespiratory complications in dogs during general anaesthesia. A review of 1281 cases.

This paper describes the cardiorespiratory variables and the incidence of anaesthetic complications in dogs. For this, a retrospective study of 1281 anaesthesias was performed. Heart rate (HR), non-invasive mean arterial (MAP), systolic (SP) and diastolic pressures (DP), invasive mean arterial (IMAP), systolic (ISP) and diastolic pressures (IDP), central venous pressure (CVP), respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume (V(T)), minute volume (V(M)), end-tidal CO(2) (EtCO(2)), arterial oxygen saturation (SpO(2)), temperature (T) and death are reported. Data were described both globally and separately for each ASA (American Society of Anaesthesiologists classification) status. An ANOVA and a Tukey's test were used for comparing the different ASA status' values (alpha=0.05). During anaesthetic maintenance, the mean +/- SD of the studied variables were: HR: 91+/-27 bpm. MAP: 86+/-24 mmHg. IMAP: 80+/-22 mmHg. SP: 114+/-25 mmHg. ISP: 109+/-26 mmHg. DP: 67+/-23 mmHg. IDP: 66+/-22 mmHg. CVP: 5+/-3 mmHg. RR: 19+/-11 rpm. V(T): 14+/-7 ml/kg. V(M): 191+/-93 ml/kg/min. EtCO(2): 40+/-8 mmHg. T: 37.1+/-1.7 degrees C. ASA III and ASA IV patients, compared with those with ASA I, showed higher values of HR, RR, V(T) and V(M) and lower in IMAP, CVP, EtCO(2), SpO(2) and T. The most frequent complications were bradycardia (36.3% of the patients), hypotension (37.9%), hypoventilation (63.4%), hypoxia (16.4%), hypothermia (4.8%) and death (0.9%). Cardiorespiratory complications frequently occur in dogs during general anaesthesia.

Comparison of romifidine and medetomidine pre-medication in propofol-isoflurane anaesthetised dogs.

The objective of this paper was to evaluate romifidine as a pre-medicant in dogs prior to propofol-isoflurane anaesthesia, and to compare it with medetomidine. For this, eight healthy dogs were anaesthetised. Each dog received three pre-anaesthetic protocols: R40 (romifidine, 40 microg/kg, IV), R80 (romifidine, 80 microg/kg, IV) or MED (medetomidine, 10 microg/kg, IV). Induction of anaesthesia was delivered with propofol and maintained with isoflurane. The following variables were studied before sedative administration and 10 min after sedative administration: heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), systolic arterial pressure (SAP) and diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) and respiratory rate (RR). During maintenance, the following variables were recorded at 5-min intervals: HR, MAP, SAD, DAP, arterial oxygen saturation (SpO(2)), end-tidal CO(2)(EtCO(2)), end-tidal concentration of isoflurane (EtISO) required for maintenance of anaesthesia and tidal volume (TV). Time to extubation, time to sternal recumbency and time to standing were also registered. HR and RR experimented a significantly decreased during sedation in all protocols respect to baseline values. Mean HR, MAP, SAP, DAP, SpO(2), EtCO(2), and TV during anaesthesia were similar for the three protocols. End tidal of isoflurane concentration was statistically similar for all protocols. Recovery time for R40 was significantly shorter than in R80 and MED. The studied combination of romifidine, propofol and isoflurane appears to be an effective drug combination for inducing and maintaining general anaesthesia in healthy dogs.

Effects of sevoflurane, isoflurane and halotane anaesthesia on fluorescein angiographic phases of dogs: a comparative study.

A fluorescein angiography method was developed to compare the onset and the total duration of the fluorangiographic phases between three anaesthetic protocols in six healthy mixed-breed dogs. The animals were anaesthetized three times. Each dog received, as pre-anaesthetic protocol, atropine (10 micrograms/kg intramuscularly), and as a sedative, romifidine (80 micrograms/kg intravenously). Fifteen minutes later, induction of anaesthesia was delivered with propofol (1 mg/kg intravenously) and maintained either with sevoflurane (SEVO group), isoflurane (ISO group) or halothane (HAL group) for 30 min in all cases. Some angiographic, cardiovascular and respiratory variables were registered during the procedure. Recovery times were also registered. Angiographic variables recorded were: onset of the arterial phase (TA), onset of the arteriovenous phase (TAV), onset of the venous phase (TV), complete arterial phase duration (I1), complete arteriovenous phase duration (I2) and I1 plus I2 (I3). Mean heart rate, mean arterial pressure, systolic arterial pressure, diastolic arterial pressure, respiratory rate, tidal volume, arterial oxygen saturation and end-tidal CO2 during SEVO and ISO anaesthesia, were similar in dogs. Minute ventilation and rectal temperature were higher in dogs with SEVO than ISO. HAL produced higher arterial pressures and a lower arterial oxygen saturation than ISO and SEVO. Mean respiratory rate, rectal temperature and minute ventilation were higher in HAL. Pulse rate, end-tidal CO2 and tidal volume were similar in the dogs of the three groups. No differences in recovery times were found. The fluorescein angiographic times were within the normal range. There were no significant differences between protocols in I1, I2 or I3. HAL produced a significant increase of all temporal variables (TA, TAV and TV) when compared with ISO; TA was higher in HAL than SEVO-treated dogs. All protocols appear to be safe and effective for inducing and maintaining general anaesthesia in healthy dogs for performing fluorescein angiography.