Performing AI 55 or 65 h after progesterone device removal did not differ in a 7-d progesterone-based protocol for timed-AI in Nellore suckled cows.

This study aimed to evaluate the reproductive performance of Nellore suckled cows inseminated 55 (n = 304) or 65 (n = 296) h after progesterone (P4) removal in a 7-d protocol. The protocol consisted of the insertion of a device with 2 g of P4 and 2 mg of estradiol benzoate on d 0, with the device remaining in the cows for 7 d. Cows in the 55-h treatment had the P4 device removed in the morning, while cows in the 65-h treatment had the P4 device removed in the afternoon. At P4 removal, cows received intramuscularly 300 IU of eCG, 0.6 mg of estradiol cypionate and 0.52 mg cloprostenol sodium. Artificial insemination was performed according to treatments (55 vs. 65 h after P4 removal). The results of the study showed that the estrus detection rate (69% vs 65%) and pregnancy per AI (P/AI; 49% vs 49%) did no differ in cows inseminated 55 or 65 h after P4 removal, respectively. Furthermore, ovulation rate, the diameter of the largest follicle at the time of AI, and P4 concentration after AI were not affected by treatments. The probability of P/AI was not affected by parity, BCS, age, diameter of largest follicle at AI, days postpartum, BW and time to AI. This study suggests that performing AI from 55 to 65 h after the P4 removal in the 7-d-P4 protocol did not affect the reproductive performance in Nellore cows, and opens the possibility for producers to take more time to perform AI of cows in the field without affecting P/AI.

Timing of and risk factors for deep surgical site infection requiring implant removal following canine tibial plateau leveling osteotomy.

OBJECTIVE: To identify demographic risk factors for deep surgical site infection (SSI) requiring tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) implant removal and time to implant removal. ANIMALS: Four hundred and thirty-three dogs that underwent a TPLO (144 that developed a deep SSI and required implant removal, 289 that did not). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. METHODS: Records of dogs undergoing implant removal due to a deep SSI after TPLO between 2006 and 2018 at two referral centers were reviewed. These records were frequency-matched by date to dogs undergoing TPLO that did not require implant removal. Multivariable analyses tested associations between demographics and implant removal as well as timing of implant removal. RESULTS: Deep SSI and implant removal occurred in 144 of 4813 (3.0%; 95% CI: 2.5, 3.5) dogs treated with TPLO. Implant removal was performed at a median of 279 days (range 49-2394 days) postoperatively. Male dogs (OR 1.8; 95% CI: 1.2, 2.7) and German Shepherd dogs (GSDs) (OR 7.4; 95% CI: 2.6, 20.5) were associated with plate removal. Earlier TPLO plate removal was associated with GSDs only (HR 2.4; 95% CI: 1.4, 4.1). CONCLUSION: Implant removal due to SSI after TPLO was uncommon, although male dogs and GSDs seemed predisposed to this complication. SIGNIFICANCE: These demographic risk factors can be used to educate owners regarding perioperative management.

Impact of postoperative antibiotics on rates of infection and implant removal after tibial tuberosity advancement in 1,768 canine stifles.

OBJECTIVE: To report infection rate, implant removal rate, and postoperative antibiotic therapy after tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: One thousand seven hundred sixty-eight stifles in 1,732 dogs. METHODS: Medical records (January 2007-December 2011) of dogs treated with a TTA were reviewed. Cases were included if at least 1 year of postoperative follow-up was available and no additional procedures were performed on the stifle. Date of surgery, date of culture, culture and susceptibility results, postoperative antimicrobials used, and any implant removals were recorded. Use of postoperative antibiotics and implant removal were evaluated statistically for effect on infection occurrence and resolution. RESULTS: Postoperative infections were diagnosed in 82 of 1,768 (4.6%) stifles. Implants were removed from 32 (39%) stifles, with plate and screw removal only in 23 (71.9%) stifles. The rate of infection did not differ between dogs with or without postoperative antibiotic therapy. However, dogs receiving postoperative antibiotic therapy were at risk for developing an oxacillin-resistant infection (P = .001). Oxacillin-resistant infections were associated with a requirement for implant removal to achieve resolution compared with other types of bacterial infections (P < .05). CONCLUSION: No benefit was detected with the use of postoperative antibiotics after TTA in this population. Implant removal was infrequent, and the requirement for cage removal was not commonly required for infection resolution. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study does not provide evidence to support postoperative antibiotic therapy after TTA. Postoperative infection can be treated in most dogs without removal of the TTA cage.

Use of an amikacin-infused collagen sponge concurrent with implant removal for treatment of tibial plateau leveling osteotomy surgical site infection in 31 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To report the use and long-term outcome of dogs with surgical site infection (SSI) after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPO), treated with an amikacin-infused collagen sponge and implant removal. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: Thirty-one client-owned dogs. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed for dogs with SSI after a TPLO that were treated with surgical implant removal and concurrent implantation of an amikacin-infused collagen sponge. Relevant clinical and surgical data were recorded. The TPLO implants were routinely removed; the surgical site was swabbed for culture. The sponge was aseptically infused with amikacin prior to implantation. Postprocedure examinations consisted of visual inspection of the incision by the surgeon and lameness scoring. RESULTS: Thirty-one dogs met all inclusion criteria. Median follow-up time was 687 days. Short-term examination after implant removal and sponge implantation revealed uneventful incisional healing in 24 dogs. Six (19.4%) dogs exhibited inflamed incision sites a median of 4 days (range, 3-9) postoperatively that resolved without additional treatment. One (3.2%) dog required empirical antibiotic treatment 7 days postoperatively but was lost to long-term follow-up. Long-term follow-up examination revealed no clinical evidence of SSI recurrence and no lameness in the remaining 30 cases. CONCLUSION: Surgical implant removal and implantation of an absorbable collagen sponge infused with amikacin alone was an effective treatment for postoperative TPLO SSI. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This procedure had a 96.8% long-term resolution of SSI. It should be considered as a treatment option for TPLO SSI.

Stent reconstruction of an injured parotid duct in a thoroughbred colt.

OBJECTIVE: To report successful use of stent repair for a chronically injured parotid duct in a thoroughbred colt. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical report. ANIMAL: A 2-year-old thoroughbred colt. METHODS: Chronic injury to the parotid duct was identified 4-cm caudal to the facial vessel notch on the ventral border of the right mandible. After careful surgical dissection of the surrounding firm fibrous tissue, the defect was temporarily stented using an 8-Fr human ureteral catheter (223600 ERU(®) SOFT URETERAL(®) , Laboratoires pharmaceutique, Betschdorf, France) to bridge the tissue loss. The rostral end of the catheter exited the oral cavity through a buccotomy stab incision at the level of the second premolar tooth of the maxilla. RESULTS: Primary wound healing occurred and the stent was maintained for 5 weeks with saliva drainage visible when the colt was fed. After stent removal, function was restored with good cosmesis. CONCLUSIONS: A tissue defect in the parotid duct can be repaired successfully by temporary use of a stent until wound healing occurs.

[Unilateral mandibular fracture in horse - Treatment with fixateur externe, a complication during implant removal and procedure for removal of implant fragments]. / Unilaterale Mandibulafraktur bei einem Pferd.

The first part of this case report describes the surgical treatment of a unilateral mandibular fracture in the standing horse by using a fixateur type I. By the time of implant removal, the fracture had completely healed. However, during implant removal, an implant failure of 2 of the 4 implants occurred with fragments remaining in the bone. The second part of the report focuses on the development of a special surgical instrument that was designed for removal of the implant fragments. Furthermore, the surgical method allowing the entire extirpation of the fragments within a second surgery is described.According to the authors' knowledge, this is the first case report showing the use of the presented surgical technique for the treatment of a mandibular fracture in the standing horse. Additionally, this report also provides an approach for removing implant fragments from the depth of the bone which may occur in case of implant breakage as a potential complication of the described surgery.

Pulmonary edema at recovery after colic operation with in-situ nasogastric tube in a horse.

After an uneventful general anesthesia, in a horse negative pressure pulmonary edema developed due to acute upper airway obstruction during the anesthetic recovery phase after colic surgery. No pathologic alteration of respiration was observed until the horse stood up and began suffocating. The horse had recovered with the nasogastric tube in situ. This, together with the postmortem diagnosis of laryngeal hemiplegia resulted in impairment of airflow through the larynx and development of pulmonary edema. Our objective is to alert clinicians about the possible hazard of recovery with an in-situ nasogastric tube.

Plate Removal after Internal Fixation of Limb Fractures: A Retrospective Study of Indications and Complications in 48 Horses.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the indications for, and complications of, plate removal surgery in horses that underwent internal fixation of limb fractures. STUDY DESIGN: Medical records of horses presented to our hospital between 1990 and 2015 for the removal of plates after treatment of limb fractures were reviewed. Data collected at the time of initial presentation, including signalment, history, fracture features and treatment and information about the indications, timing and complications of implant removal were reviewed. RESULTS: The most common bones involved were the ulna (n = 19) and third metacarpal and metatarsal bones (n = 14). A total of 63 plates were removed from 48 horses during 53 separate surgeries, and the complication rate was 6/48; six horses had complications related to implant removal, which included persistent infection (n = 1) and refracture (n = 5). Complications related to implant removal were associated with comminuted fractures (p = 0.002), age > 3 years (p = 0.016) and the presence of surgical site infection (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Plate removal after fracture healing is necessary in patients with implant-associated clinical signs. There is a strong relationship between the complication rate and the degree of comminution of the original fracture, increasing age and the presence of surgical site infection. The surgeon must be aware of these risk factors when planning plate removal.

Retrospective analysis of the relationship between time of thoracostomy drain removal and discharge time.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the volume of fluid being produced at the time of thoracostomy drain removal and the time to hospital discharge in dogs and cats. METHODS: Records of 101 dogs and 26 cats with thoracostomy drains were reviewed. Three subgroups were created according to the reason for thoracostomy drain placement: P (postsurgical), A (air) and F (fluid). A generalised linear model with Poisson Errors was performed to test the relationship between the volume of fluid produced at the time of thoracostomy drain removal and the time to discharge. The volume of fluid produced and the time to discharge were compared between species and subgroups. RESULTS: No significant relationship was found between the volume of fluid produced at the time of thoracostomy drain removal and the time to discharge in either species or between the time to discharge and the reason for thoracostomy drain placement. Animals with a volume of fluid higher than 2 ml/kg/day at the time of thoracostomy drain removal did not have increased hospitalisation times. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Thoracostomy drain can be removed, without clinical compromise, when the volume of fluid produced exceeds 2 ml/kg/day. However, other clinical parameters must be taken into consideration.

Effect of induction of ovulation with estradiol benzoate at P4 device removal on ovulation rate and fertility in Bos indicus cows submitted to a TAI protocol.

This study aimed to minimize the number of times cattle need to be confined during protocols for TAI in beef cows treated for induction of ovulation with EB at the time of P4 device removal (P4r). In Experiment 1, cows were treated with P4 plus EB (Day 0; AM) and were allocated to one of three groups at P4r: EB8.5, EB at P4r on Day 8.5 (PM; three confinements); EB9, EB 24 h after P4r on Day 8 (AM; four confinements) and EC8, EC at P4r on Day 8 (AM; positive control; three confinements). At P4r, cows were treated with PGF2a plus eCG. Ultrasonography was performed from D8 to D12. The interval from P4r to ovulation was less in the EB8.5 compared to EB9 and EC8 group. There was no difference in the ovulation rate between groups. The variability of ovulation was greater in the EB8.5 and EC8 compared to EB9 group. In Experiment 2, cows of EC8 and EB9 groups were submitted to TAI 48 to 52 h (AM) or 54 to 58 h (PM) after P4r (D10). Cows of the EB8.5 group were submitted to TAI 38 to 42 h (AM) or 44 to 48 h (PM) after P4r (D10). There was no interaction between treatments and timing of AI and no treatment effect and timing of AI on P/AI. In conclusion, the delay compared to what typically occurs by 10 h of P4r concomitant with EB administration (Day 8.5) reduced the frequency of animal confinement for the TAI protocol without affecting the reproductive efficiency and the flexibility to perform the TAI in suckled beef cows.

Percutaneous endovascular retrieval of an intravascular foreign body in five dogs, a goat, and a horse.

CASE DESCRIPTION-5 Dogs, 1 goat, and 1 horse underwent percutaneous endovascular retrieval of intravascular foreign bodies between 2002 and 2007. CLINICAL FINDINGS-Foreign bodies were IV catheters in 4 dogs, the horse, and the goat and a piece of a balloon valvuloplasty catheter in 1 dog. Location of the foreign bodies included the main pulmonary artery (1 dog), a branch of a pulmonary artery (4 dogs), the right ventricle (the goat), and a jugular vein (the horse). TREATMENT AND OUTCOME-The procedure of percutaneous endovascular retrieval of the foreign body was easy to perform in all instances. One dog was euthanized 41 days after retrieval because of worsening of another disease process, and 1 dog had abnormal neurologic signs secondary to a brain mass. All other animals were clinically normal during the follow-up period (follow-up duration, 3 to 57 months). None of the animals developed long-term complications secondary to the foreign body retrieval procedure. CLINICAL RELEVANCE-Intravascular foreign bodies that result from catheters or devices used during minimally invasive techniques are rare but may cause substantial morbidity. Percutaneous endovascular retrieval of intravascular foreign bodies was easily and safely performed in the 7 animals reported here. Use of percutaneous endovascular retrieval techniques should be considered for treatment of animals with intravascular foreign bodies because morbidity can be substantially decreased; however, proper selection of patients for the procedure is necessary.

Does surface anodisation of titanium implants change osseointegration and make their extraction from bone any easier?

OBJECTIVES: Titanium implants have a tendency for high bone-implant bonding, and, in comparison to stainless steel implants are more difficult to remove. The current study was carried out to evaluate, i) the release strength of three selected anodized titanium surfaces with increased nanohardness and low roughness, and ii) bone-implant bonding in vivo. These modified surfaces were intended to give improved anchorage while facilitating easier removal of temporary implants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The new surfaces were referenced to a stainless steel implant and a standard titanium implant surface (TiMAX). In a sheep limb model, healing period was 3 months. Bone-implant bonding was evaluated either biomechanically or histologically. RESULTS: The new surface anodized screws demonstrated similar or slightly higher bone-implant-contact (BIC) and torque release forces than the titanium reference. The BIC of the stainless steel implants was significant lower than two of the anodized surfaces (p = 0.04), but differences between stainless steel and all titanium implants in torque release forces were not significant (p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: The new anodized titanium surfaces showed good bone-implant bonding despite a smooth surface and increased nanohardness. However, they failed to facilitate implant removal at 3 months.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in a German shepherd dog with ventricular arrhythmias.

This report describes the use of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) in a young German shepherd dog afflicted with inherited ventricular arrhythmias. Proper generator and lead placement was necessary for successful termination of ventricular fibrillation during device testing at the time of implantation. The risks of inappropriate therapy triggered by sinus tachycardia and oversensing of the T wave were controlled by extensive programming of the device. Following spontaneous resolution of the arrhythmia and due to the development of sepsis associated with the device, the ICD was successfully removed.

Endovascular retrieval of embolized jugular catheter fragments in three dogs using a nitinol gooseneck snare.

Two dogs were referred to the Kansas State University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for pulmonary arterial embolization and one to Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for right heart embolization of jugular catheter fragments. Endovascular retrieval of foreign bodies was accomplished under general anesthesia in all three cases. Although the incidence of, and complications associated with catheter embolization in dogs are unknown, it appears that they can be safely and easily retrieved with a nitinol gooseneck snare.

Percutaneous extraction of a knotted pulmonary artery catheter and an entrapped tined pacing lead in two dogs.

Catheters and pacing leads may become entrapped within the heart necessitating the use of creative measures for extraction while preventing damage to cardiac structures. This report describes the percutaneous extraction of a knotted pulmonary artery catheter and an entrapped tined pacing lead in two dogs. In both cases, a long transseptal sheath was advanced over the catheter or pacing lead and used to facilitate removal of the entrapped devices without causing damage to the heart.