Laparoscopic portosystemic shunt attenuation in 20 dogs (2018-2021).

OBJECTIVE: To describe the technique, complications, and outcome of laparoscopic portosystemic shunt attenuation (LPSSA) in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: Twenty client-owned dogs. METHODS: Medical records were searched for dogs with a single congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (CEPSS) that was treated with LPSSA. Signalment, clinical signs, CEPSS location, diagnostic imaging, laparoscopic approach, operative technique, complications, and clinical outcome were reviewed. RESULTS: Fourteen dogs with CEPSS located in the epiploic foramen had a right (13/14) or left (1/14) paramedian approach. In 6 dogs a CEPSS was not located in the epiploic foramen, and a left paramedian approach was used. A 3 or 4-port technique was used in 7 and 13 dogs, respectively. A thin film band was used for CEPSS attenuation in all dogs. The median operating time for LPSSA was 62 min (range 27-98 min). Intraoperative complications requiring conversion to an open technique occurred in 5 dogs. Mild perioperative self-limiting portal hypertension occurred in 3 dogs, while severe portal hypertension with surgical revision occurred in 1 case. The complications were resolved, and all dogs had a good outcome. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic portosystemic shunt attenuation can be performed in dogs, in particular for a CEPSS located in the epiploic foramen using a right paramedian approach. For CEPSS not located in the epiploic foramen, a left paramedian approach is recommended. Conversion to open celiotomy was required in around a third of cases. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Laparoscopic attenuation of CEPSSs can be performed in dogs and has a good clinical outcome, particularly for CEPSS located in the epiploic foramen.

Different media and supplements modulate the clonogenic and expansion properties of rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

BACKGROUND: Rabbits provide an excellent model for many animal and human diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, for the development of new vaccines in wound healing management and in the field of tissue engineering of tendon, cartilage, bone and skin.The study presented herein aims to investigate the biological properties of bone marrow rabbit MSCs cultured in different conditions, in order to provide a basis for their clinical applications in veterinary medicine. FINDINGS: MSCs were isolated from 5 New Zealand rabbits. Fold increase, CFU number, doubling time, differentiation ability and immunophenotype were analyzed.With the plating density of 10 cells/cm2 the fold increase was significantly lower with DMEM-20%FCS and MSCs growth was significantly higher with alphaMEM-hEGF. The highest clonogenic ability was found at 100 cell/cm2 with MSCBM and at 10 cell/cm2 with M199. Both at 10 and 100 cells/cm2, in alphaMEM medium, the highest CFU increase was obtained by adding bFGF. Supplementing culture media with 10%FCS-10%HS determined a significant increase of CFU. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that different progenitor cells with differential sensitivity to media, sera and growth factors exist and the choice of culture conditions has to be carefully considered for MSC management.