Use of Laryngeal Mask and Anesthetic Management in Hamadryas Baboons (Papio hamadryas) Undergoing Laparoscopic Salpingectomy-A Case Series.

The study aims to describe the anesthetic and airway management of baboons (Papio hamadryas) undergoing laparoscopic salpingectomy with a laryngeal mask airway (LMA) device. Eleven baboons received tiletamine-zolazepam and medetomidine; anesthesia was induced with propofol. An LMA was positioned for oxygen and isoflurane administration in spontaneous respiration. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), respiratory rate (RR), end tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2), minute volume (MV), and peripheral hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO2) were recorded before (PREPP) and immediately after abdomen insufflation (PP1), at 10 (PP2), 20 (PP3), and 30 (PP4) minutes during pneumoperitoneum, and after (POSTPP) pneumoperitoneum. The respiratory rate was significantly higher at all times compared to PREPP. The end tidal carbon dioxide concentration was significantly higher at PP2, PP3, PP4, and POSTPP, compared to the previous times. The higher values for RR and EtCO2 were registered at PP4: 22.7 (95% CI 17.6-27.8) breaths/min and 57.9 (95% CI 51.9-63.8) mmHg, respectively. The minute volume was significantly higher at PP4 and POSTPP compared to the other times. The higher value for MV was registered at POSTPP (269.1 (95% CI 206.1-331.8) mL/kg/min). This protocol is suitable for baboons undergoing laparoscopic salpingectomy. The LMA was easy to insert and allowed for good ventilation, gas exchange, and delivery of the anesthetic in spontaneous breathing baboons.

Wound Retractor Laparoscopic Port System for Laparoscopic Ovariectomy in Panthera leo.

The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and intraoperative complications of performing ovariectomies in African lionesses (Panthera leo) using a wound retractor laparoscopic platform. Six lionesses (n = 6) were included. The surgical procedures were carried out through three portals, with a retractor platform positioned at the umbilical port and cannulas placed 3-4 cm from the cranial and caudal regions to the device at the level of the midline. An ovariectomy was performed with a vessel-sealing device. We evaluated the surgery time and the intraoperative and early postoperative complications. The mean weight was 172.83 kg. The total surgery time was 49.33 min. The installation step took a mean of 10.33 min to complete. The mean ovariectomy time was 20 min. Controlled bleeding was observed at the tip of the uterine horn in two cases due to excessive tissue thickness. The retrieval of dissected ovarian tissue and annexes was easily performed. No other complications were observed. The use of the laparoscopic platform during three-portal surgeries for laparoscopic ovariectomy in adult overweight lionesses is feasible and without intraoperative problems. The retractor meant that there were no entry-related issues due to the 25 mm mini-laparotomy. It also made it simpler to extract thick ovaries and promptly re-establish the pneumoperitoneum.

Laparoscopic salpingectomy in Papio hamadryas for birth control in captivity.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopic salpingectomy in baboons (Papio hamadryas). We hypothesized that laparoscopic salpingectomy could be performed in baboon species within a reasonable amount of surgical time, with minor complications occurring at low rates. STUDY DESIGN: Case series and technique description. ANIMALS: Sixteen baboons (n = 16). METHODS: The surgical procedures were performed using the 3-port technique, with 5 mm instruments and a telescope placed at the umbilical and hypogastric regions. A salpinx dissection was performed, using a radiofrequency bipolar vessel sealing device, from the fimbriae to the uterine attachments. We evaluated the surgical duration, learning curve, and intraoperative and early postoperative complications. RESULTS: Ten adult and 6 subadult baboons with a mean weight of 9.32 kg, a range of 4-14.2 kg, and a standard deviation (SD) of 3.09 kg were included in the study. The total duration of surgery was 28.75 min (range, 16-50 min; SD, 9.60 min). The installation phase was completed in a mean time of 7.68 min (range, 3-15 min; SD, 3.43 min), and the time to complete the salpingectomy of both salpinges was 9.68 min (range, 4-20 min; SD, 3.97 min). No complications were observed in the postoperative period. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic salpingectomy in Papio hamadryas was feasible, with an acceptable surgical time, low invasiveness, and only minor technical perioperative complications. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Laparoscopic salpingectomy could be a viable and safe therapeutic option in nonhuman primate birth-control programs.

Evaluation of a constant rate intravenous infusion of dexmedetomidine on the duration of a femoral and sciatic nerve block using lidocaine in dogs.

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of 1 µg/kg/h intravenous constant rate infusion (CRI) of dexmedetomidine on the sensory and motor blockade for femoral and sciatic nerve blocks in dogs undergoing stifle surgery. Materials and methods: Client-owned dogs referred for stifle surgery were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, blinded study. Dogs were pre-medicated with acepromazine (0.005-0.01 mg/kg intramuscularly, IM); anesthesia was induced with propofol intravenously and maintained with isoflurane in a mixture of air and oxygen. Electrolocation-guided sciatic and femoral nerve blocks with lidocaine 2% (0.15 mL/kg) were performed using the parasacral and lateral pre-iliac approaches, respectively. After performing local block, a systemic infusion of saline solution (group C) or dexmedetomidine (group D) was started at a CRI at 1 ml/kg/h and continued until the end of surgery. Dexmedetomidine was infused at a dose of 1 µg/kg/h. Respiratory and hemodynamic variables were recorded during surgery. Sensory and motor blockade was evaluated by response to pinching the skin innervated by the sciatic/femoral nerves, with forceps and by observing the dogs' ability to walk and testing proprioception at 30, 60, 120, 180, and 240 min after extubation. Analgesia was monitored with SF-GCPS. Methadone IM was administered as rescue analgesia. Intraoperative data were analyzed by analysis of variance, while postoperative data were analyzed by the independent two-tailed t-test and a Kaplan-Meier test (p < 0.05). Results: Twenty dogs were included in this study (10/group). A significant difference in the recovery of sensory nerve function was observed between the groups. The mean durations of the sensory blockade for femoral and sciatic nerves, respectively, was longer (p < 0.001) for group D [168 (146-191, 95% CI), 161 (143-179, 95% CI) min] than in group C [120 (96.1-144, 95% CI), 116 (90.9-142, 95% CI]. No differences in the recovery of patellar and tibial reflexes, proprioceptive function, and ability to walk were found among groups. The overall postoperative rescue analgesia requirement was significantly different (p = 0.019) between groups, with an incidence of 5/10 (50%) dogs in group D and 10/10 (100%) dogs in group C. Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine administered as a CRI (1 µg/kg/h) combined with local lidocaine increases the duration of the sensory component of the sciatic and femoral nerve blocks and reduces the requirement for additional analgesia during the immediate postoperative hours.

Clinical efficacy of dexmedetomidine combined with lidocaine for femoral and sciatic nerve blocks in dogs undergoing stifle surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of dexmedetomidine administered perineurally or intramuscularly (IM) on sensory, motor function and postoperative analgesia produced by lidocaine for sciatic and femoral nerve blocks in dogs undergoing unilateral tibial tuberosity advancement surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, blinded, clinical study. ANIMALS: A group of 30 dogs. METHODS: Dogs were anaesthetized with acepromazine, propofol and isoflurane in oxygen/air. Electrolocation-guided femoral and sciatic nerve blocks were performed: group L, 0.15 mL kg-1 2% lidocaine (n = 10); group LDloc, lidocaine and 0.15 µg kg-1 dexmedetomidine perineurally (n = 10); group LDsys, lidocaine and 0.3 µg kg-1 dexmedetomidine IM (n = 10). After anaesthesia, sensory blockade was evaluated by response to forceps pinch on skin innervated by the saphenous/femoral, common fibular and tibial nerves. Motor blockade was evaluated by observing the ability to walk and proprioception. Analgesia was monitored with Short Form of Glasgow Composite Pain Scale for up to 4 hours after extubation. Methadone IM was administered as rescue analgesia. Data were analysed by linear mixed effect models and Kaplan-Meier test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Median duration of the sensory blockade for all nerves was longer (p < 0.001) for group LDloc than for groups L and LDsys and was longer (p = 0.0011) for group LDsys than for group L. Proprioception returned later (p < 0.001) for group LDloc [285 (221-328) minutes] compared with group L [160 (134-179) minutes] or LDsys [195 (162-257) minutes]. Return of the ability to walk was similar among all groups. Dogs in group LDloc required postoperative rescue analgesia later (p = 0.001) than dogs in groups LDsys and L. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Dexmedetomidine administered perineurally with lidocaine prolonged sensory blockade and analgesia during the immediate postoperative period. Systemic dexmedetomidine also prolonged the sensory blockade of perineural lidocaine.

CT Findings and Histological Evaluation of Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) with Chronic Head Trauma Injury: A Retrospective Study.

Large numbers of wild animals are injured every year in road traffic accidents. Scant data are available for rescued wild carnivores, in particular for red foxes. Cases of foxes with head trauma were retrospectively considered for inclusion in this study. Clinical examination, modified Glasgow coma scale (MGCS), computed tomography (CT) examination, therapy, outcome, and post mortem findings of the brain were investigated. In all foxes, cranial vaults lesion occurred in single (67%) or multiple sites (33%). Midline shift and hydrocephalus were observed in this population. The mean survival was 290 (±176) days. In our study, we performed CT scans on average 260 days after fox rescue, and we speculate that persisting clinical signs could be attributed to TBI. In our study, only two foxes were alive at the time of writing. Other foxes were euthanized due to the severity of the clinical signs. CT scans help diagnose chronic lesions and their effect on prognostic judgment for animals released to wildlife environments.

Definition and clinical evaluation of a recruiting airway pressure based on the specific lung elastance in anesthetized dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the specific lung elastance (SEL) in anesthetized dogs and to evaluate the efficacy of a SEL-based recruiting airway pressure (RPaw) at improving global and regional lung aeration. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective and prospective clinical study. ANIMALS: A total of 28 adult dogs were included in the retrospective study and six adult dogs in the prospective study. METHODS: Retrospective study: SEL and SEL-based RPaw were determined using previously published data. In mechanically ventilated dogs undergoing thoracic computed tomography (CT), SEL was calculated as ΔPL/(VT/EELV), where ΔPL is the driving transpulmonary pressure, VT is the tidal volume and EELV is the end-expiratory lung volume. The ratio of lung to respiratory system elastance (EL/Ers) was determined. SEL and EL/Ers were used to calculate the SEL-based RPaw. Prospective study: dogs underwent thoracic CT at end-expiration and at end-inspiration using the SEL-based RPaw, and global and regional aeration was determined. For analysis of regional aeration, lungs were divided into cranial, intermediate and caudal regions. Regional compliance was also calculated. A p value <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The SEL and EL/Ers were 12.7 ± 3.1 cmH2O and 0.54 ± 0.07, respectively. The SEL-based RPaw was 29.1 ± 7.6 cmH2O. In the prospective study, the RPaw was 28.2 ± 1.3 cmH2O. During RPaw, hyperinflation increased (p = 0.0003) whereas poorly aerated (p < 0.0001) and nonaerated (p = 0.01) tissue decreased. Normally aerated tissue did not change (p = 0.265). Regional compliance was higher in the intermediate (p = 0.0003) and caudal (p = 0.034) regions compared with the cranial region. Aeration did not differ between regions (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: An SEL-based RPaw reduces poorly and nonaerated lung tissue in anesthetized dogs. In nonsurgical anesthetized dogs, an RPaw near 30 cmH2O is effective at improving lung aeration.

Intraoperative Assessment of Fluid Responsiveness in Normotensive Dogs under Isoflurane Anaesthesia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of fluid responsiveness (FR) to a fluid challenge (FC) in normotensive dogs under anaesthesia. The accuracy of pulse pressure variation (PPV), systolic pressure variation (SPV), stroke volume variation (SVV), and plethysmographic variability index (PVI) for predicting FR was also evaluated. Dogs were anaesthetised with methadone, propofol, and inhaled isoflurane in oxygen, under volume-controlled mechanical ventilation. FC was performed by the administration of 5 mL/kg of Ringer's lactate within 5 min. Cardiac index (CI; L/min/m2), PPV, (%), SVV (%), SPV (%), and PVI (%) were registered before and after FC. Data were analysed with ANOVA and ROC tests (p < 0.05). Fluid responsiveness was defined as 15% increase in CI. Eighty dogs completed the study. Fifty (62.5%) were responders and 30 (37.5%) were nonresponders. The PPV, PVI, SPV, and SVV cut-off values (AUC, p) for discriminating responders from nonresponders were PPV >13.8% (0.979, <0.001), PVI >14% (0.956, <0.001), SPV >4.1% (0.793, <0.001), and SVV >14.7% (0.729, <0.001), respectively. Up to 62.5% of normotensive dogs under inhalant anaesthesia may be fluid responders. PPV and PVI have better diagnostic accuracy to predict FR, compared to SPV and SVV.

Wound Retractor Laparoscopic Port System for Standing Laparoscopic Cryptorchidectomy in the Horse: A Case Report.

Cryptorchidectomy is the most commonly performed laparoscopic procedure in horses. However, its use for the extraction of an abdominal testis has disadvantages such as loss of a resected testis from grasp and fragmentation of the specimen because of the excessive tension required for extraction through a thick body wall. The ring wound retractor laparoscopic port system was recently used in human and small animal surgery to perform laparoscopic-assisted procedures and retrieve large specimens from the abdomen. In the present case, the wound retractor was placed as the ventral port in the right flank through a minilaparotomy. Thereafter, the cap with the gas inlet and instrument port was connected. The other two ports were placed dorsally using 10-mm stainless steel cannulas. Grasping forcep was introduced through the ventral port, and the laparoscope and vessel-sealing devices were introduced through the dorsal ports. After the testis was resected, it was retrieved from the abdomen through the retractor without the grasping forceps jaw being released. This is the first case report describing the use of the wound retractor laparoscopic port system for standing cryptorchidectomy in a horse. This system can be a feasible and safe option for flank laparoscopy in horses, and it facilitates specimen retrieval from the abdominal cavity, but further studies should confirm this preliminary report.