Successful management of pulmonary edema secondary to accidental electrocution in a young dog.

BACKGROUND: Human records describe pulmonary edema as a life-threatening complication of electric shock. Successful management requires prompt recognition and intensive care. However, in companion animals, electrocutions are rarely reported, even though domestic environments are full of electrical devices and there is always the possibility of accidental injury. Therefore, it is important for veterinarians to know more about this condition in order to achieve successful patient outcomes. CASE PRESENTATION: A 3-month-old male Labrador Retriever was presented with a history of transient loss of consciousness after chewing on a household electrical cord. On admission, the puppy showed an orthopneic position with moderate respiratory distress. Supplemental oxygen via nasal catheter was provided, but the patient showed marked worsening of respiratory status. Point-of-care ultrasound exams suggested neurogenic pulmonary edema due to electrical shock close to the central nervous system and increased B-lines without evidence of cardiac abnormalities. Mechanical ventilation of the patient was initiated using volume-controlled mode with a tidal volume of 9 to 15 ml/kg until reaching an end-tidal carbon dioxide ≤ 40 mm Hg, followed by a stepwise lung-recruitment maneuver in pressure-controlled mode with increases of the peak inspiratory pressure (15 to 20 cm H2O) and positive end-expiratory pressure (3 to 10 cm H2O) for 30 min, and return to volume-controlled mode with a tidal volume of 15 ml/kg until reaching a peripheral oxygen saturation ≥ 96%. Weaning from the ventilator was achieved in six hours, and the patient was discharged two days after admission without neurological or respiratory deficits. CONCLUSIONS: We present a rather unusual case of a neurogenic pulmonary edema subsequent to accidental electrocution in a dog. Timely diagnosis by ultrasound and mechanical ventilation settings are described. Our case highlights that pulmonary edema should be considered a potentially life-threatening complication of electrical shock in small animal emergency and critical care medicine.

Sudden death associated with electric shock in a horse: a case report / Muerte súbita asociada a descarga eléctrica en un equino: reporte de uncaso / Morte súbita associada com choque elétrico em um cavalo: relato de caso

The aim of this study was to describe a case of sudden death in a horse associated with electric shock. Refer aThoroughbred horse race, sex male, 7 years old. With a history of sudden collapse and death. He practiced thetechnique described for equine necropsy. Samples were collected from all organs for histology. Additionally, blood samples for complete blood count and blood chemistry. The room where the fish was was assessed with a powerdetector. Necropsy results were cyanotic mucous membranes, marked rigor mortis. Bleeding Ecchymotic epicardiumand endocardium. Liver hemorrhage, adrenal and kidney bruise. The histological sections showed in muscle: marked hypereosinophilia, retains the basic profile of the muscle myofibril, acute coagulation necrosis. Heart: coagulationnecrosis, degeneration of muscle myofibrils with hyalinization and swelling. Hematological tests evidenced acutehemolysis. Environmental assessment with the power detector revealed a discharge of electricity with an amperage≥250 mA. In conclusion we report a case of sudden death in a horse associated with electric shock.

El objetivo de este estudio fue describir un caso de muerte súbita en un equino asociado a una descarga eléctrica.Se remite un equino Pura Sangre de Carrera, de sexo macho, 7 años de edad. Con historia de colapso súbito ymuerte. Se le practicó la técnica de necropsia descrita para equinos. Fueron colectadas muestras de todos los órganos para estudio histológico. Adicionalmente se tomaron muestras de sangre para estudio hematológico y química sanguínea. El recinto donde se encontraba el ejemplar fue evaluado con un detector de electricidad. Los resultados de necropsia fueron: mucosas cianóticas, marcada rigidez cadavérica. Hemorragia equimótica de epicardio y endocardio. Hemorragia hepática, adrenal y renal equimótica. Los cortes histológicos evidenciaron en musculo: marcada hipereosinofilia, se conserva el perfil básico de la miofibrilla muscular, necrosis de coagulación aguda. Corazón: necrosis de coagulación, degeneración de miofibrillas musculares con hialinización y tumefacción. Elestudio hematológico evidenció hemolisis aguda. La evaluación del ambiente con el detector de electricidad reveló una descarga de electricidad con un amperaje ≥250mA. En conclusión se reporta un caso de muerte súbita en unequino asociada a descarga eléctrica.

O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever um caso de morte súbita num equino associado a uma descarga elétrica. Éremitido um equino Sangue Puro de Carreira, de sexo macho, 7 anos de idade. Com uma historia de colapso súbito e morte. Foi praticada a técnica de necropsia descrita para equinos. Foram coletadas amostras de todos os órgãos para estudo histológico. Adicionalmente foram tomadas amostras de sangue para estudo hematológico e químicasanguínea. O lugar onde se encontrava o exemplar foi avaliado com um detector de eletricidade. Os resultadosde necropsia foram: mucosas cianóticas, marcada rigidez cadavérica. Hemorragia equimótica de epicardio eendocardio. Hemorragia hepática, adrenal e renal equimótica. Os cortes histológicos evidenciaram em músculo:marcada hipereosinofilia, é conservado o perfil básico da miofibrilha muscular, necrose de coagulação aguda.Coração: necrose de coagulação, degeneração de miofibrilhas musculares com hialinização e tumefação. O estudohematológico evidenciou hemolise aguda. A avaliação do ambiente com o detector de eletricidade revelou umadescarga de eletricidade com um amperagem ≥250mA. Em conclusão é reportado um caso de morte súbita numequino associada à descarga elétrica.

Methods of euthanasia in poultry and food-producing animals.

This article summarizes the methods of euthanasia in poultry and food-producing animals and details some of the advantages and disadvantages of specific methods. Specific recommendations are made for each type of animal, with alternative methods for special circumstances. Reasons are given for recommending methods that are not "first-choice methods" of the AVMA Panel on Euthanasia. Detailed descriptions are included for selected methods of euthanasia.

Electrical safety for the veterinary surgeon.

In human medicine, protection of the patient has demanded stringent safety precautions that have not been applied in the veterinary field. There is a hazard to the operator from the increasing use of electrical equipment in veterinary medicine, often in an environment where conducting floors and other items can carry fault currents through a human or animal body. The source of these currents may be equipment that has developed faults due to disconnected earth leads and breakdown of insulation so that the case or leads from the equipment become live. Currents exceeding 10 mA passing through the body may cause death from ventricular fibrillation. Protection from accident may be provided by circuit breakers that sense fault currents and disconnect the power, and by taking precautions to correctly maintain electrical fittings.