Treatment and outcome following substantial ketamine overdose in a dog.

A 9-year-old, 3.7 kg (8.14 lb) neutered male Yorkshire terrier mix was treated following a ketamine overdose after subcutaneous ureteral bypass surgery. Due to an error in communication and misinterpretation of an electronic treatment sheet, the dog was inadvertently placed on a continuous rate infusion (CRI) of ketamine at 67.6 mg/kg per hour, rather than the intended 0.2 mg/kg per hour rate. Four hours after initiation of the ketamine CRI, the dog developed signs indicative of a ketamine overdose including tachycardia, hyperthermia, anisocoria, and hypoglycemia. It was determined the dog had received an iatrogenic overdose of ketamine; the infusion had been running at 67.6 mg/kg per hour, resulting in 270 mg/kg of ketamine over 4 h. Aggressive supportive measures were undertaken, and the dog gradually recovered over an 18-hour period, without lasting consequences of the overdose. To the authors' knowledge, there are no current published reports of a ketamine overdose of this magnitude in a dog. This case report documents an iatrogenic 338 times intravenous ketamine overdose in a dog, which was successfully managed with supportive care. In addition, it highlights the importance of doctor-technician communication and the potential errors in using electronic treatment sheets.

Traitement et résultat à la suite d'une surdose importante de kétamine chez un chien. Un Yorkshire terrier mélangé mâle de 9 ans et pesant 3,7 kg (8,14 lb) a été traité à la suite d'une surdose de kétamine après un pontage urétéral sous-cutané. En raison d'une erreur de communication et d'une mauvaise interprétation d'une feuille de traitement électronique, le chien a été placé par inadvertance sous une perfusion à débit continu (IRC) de kétamine à 67,6 mg/kg par heure, au lieu du débit prévu de 0,2 mg/kg par heure. Quatre heures après le début de l'IRC de kétamine, le chien a développé des signes indiquant une surdose de kétamine, notamment de la tachycardie, de l'hyperthermie, de l'anisocorie et de l'hypoglycémie. Il a été déterminé que le chien avait reçu une surdose iatrogène de kétamine; la perfusion fonctionnait à 67,6 mg/kg par heure, entraînant 270 mg/kg de kétamine en 4 h. Des mesures de soutien agressives ont été mises en place et le chien s'est progressivement rétabli sur une période de 18 heures, sans conséquences durables du surdosage.À la connaissance des auteurs, il n'existe actuellement aucun rapport publié sur une surdose de kétamine de cette ampleur chez un chien. Ce rapport de cas documente une surdose iatrogène de kétamine de 338 fois par voie intraveineuse chez un chien, qui a été gérée avec succès avec des soins de soutien. De plus, il met en évidence l'importance de la communication médecin-technicien et les erreurs potentielles dans l'utilisation des fiches de traitement électroniques.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

US Insurance Program's Experience With a Multigene Assay for Early-Stage Breast Cancer.

PURPOSE: National guidelines recommend a 21-gene recurrence score (RS) to aid in adjuvant treatment decision in patients with estrogen receptor (ER) -positive, lymph node (LN) -negative early-stage breast cancer (ESBC). This study was performed to assess the economic implication of the assay in community practices from the perspective of a US payer. METHODS: The study analyzed 952 women with ESBC enrolled with Humana (Louisville, KY) who were tested with the 21-gene RS between June 2006 and June 2010. The proportion of women classified by the assay according to RS risk category, use, and costs of chemotherapy regimens and supportive care, and costs of adverse events were obtained from Humana. We adopted a validated Markov model to compute the cost implications of RS for a representative patient. The probability of risk of recurrence, the chemotherapy benefit, and the decision impact of RS were derived from published studies. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-five patients within the tested population received adjuvant chemotherapy. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered to 10% of women at low risk, 36% of women at intermediate risk, and 72% of women at high risk of recurrence. On the basis of a meta-analysis in the reduction of chemotherapy after RS, the model estimated an average test saving of $1,160 per patient. The immediate direct savings for chemotherapy drugs, supportive care, and management of adverse events were $1,885, $2,578, and $472, respectively. Prevention of recurrence through appropriate treatment of patients at high risk resulted in additional savings of $199. CONCLUSION: The adoption of the 21-gene RS led to targeted management of women with ER-positive, LN-negative ESBC and consequently directed savings to the payer.

US insurance program's experience with a multigene assay for early-stage breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: National guidelines recommend a 21-gene recurrence score (RS) to aid in adjuvant treatment decision in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, lymph node (LN)-negative early-stage breast cancer (ESBC). This study was performed to assess the economic implication of the assay in community practices from the perspective of a US payer. METHODS: The study analyzed 952 women with ESBC enrolled with Humana (Louisville, KY) who were tested with the 21-gene RS between June 2006 and June 2010. The proportions of women classified by the assay according to RS risk category, use, costs of chemotherapy regimens and supportive care, and costs of adverse events were obtained from Humana. We adopted a validated Markov model to compute the cost implications of RS for a representative patient. The probability of risk of recurrence, the chemotherapy benefit, and the decision impact of RS were derived from published studies. RESULTS: A total of 255 patients within the tested population received adjuvant chemotherapy. Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered to 10% of women at low risk, 36% of women at intermediate risk, and 72% of women at high risk of recurrence. On the basis of a meta-analysis in the reduction of chemotherapy after RS, the model estimated an average test saving of $1160 per patient. The immediate direct savings for chemotherapy drugs, supportive care, and management of adverse events were $1885, $2578, and $472, respectively. Prevention of recurrence through appropriate treatment of patients at high risk resulted in additional savings of $199. CONCLUSION: The adoption of the 21-gene RS led to targeted management of women with ER-positive, LN-negative ESBC and consequently directed savings to the payer.