Evaluation of echocardiographic variables of morphometry and function in horses submitted to minimally invasive partial pericardiotomy / [Avaliação de variáveis ecocardiográficas morfométricas e funcionais em cavalos submetidos à pericardiotomia parcial minimamente invasiva]

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of minimally invasive partial pericardiotomy on echocardiographic variables of morphometry and function in healthy horses. Minimally invasive pericardiotomy was performed in six healthy horses. Echocardiographic evaluation was executed in different moments: prior to the surgical procedure (M0); 24 hours post procedure (M1); 72 hours post procedure (M2) and 28 days post procedure (M3). The following variables were measured: Right ventricular internal diameter in diastole and systole (RVd and RVs), interventricular septum thickness in diastole and systole (IVSd and IVSs), left ventricular internal diameter in diastole and systole (LVd and LVs), left ventricular free wall thickness in diastole and systole (LVFWd and LVFWs), aortic root diameter (Ao) and left atrial diameter (LA). From this data, the following variables were calculated: fractional shortening (FS%), fractional thickening of the interventricular septum (IVS%), fractional thickening of the left ventricular free wall (LVFW%) and the relationship between left atrial and aortic diameters (LA/Ao). After 28 days, a new thoracoscopy was performed for inspection of the thoracic cavity. In M1 and M2 ECO evaluations, a statistically significant change in LVFW and a decrease in RVd, LVd, LVFWs, LA, LVs, FS% and IVS was documented. Pericardiotomy is a promising technique in horses, with minor postoperative complication. The variations in the echocardiographic parameters were transient and did not cause hemodynamic damage to the animals.(AU)

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o impacto da pericardiotomia parcial minimamente invasiva sobre as variáveis ecocardiográficas morfométricas e funcionais em cavalos, visto que não há nenhum trabalho que tenha avaliado o impacto da pericardiotomia na espécie equina. Foram utilizados seis cavalos hígidos, nos quais se realizou pericardiotomia minimamente invasiva. Em todos eles, foi efetuado exame ecocardiográfico em diferentes momentos: previamente ao procedimento cirúrgico (M0); 24 horas após (M1); 72 horas após (M2) e 28 dias após (M3). Foram mensurados: diâmetro interno do ventrículo direito (VDd e VDs), espessura do septo interventricular (SIVd e SIVs), diâmetro interno do ventrículo esquerdo (VEd e VEs), espessura da parede livre do ventrículo esquerdo (PLVEd e PLVEs), diâmetro interno da aorta (Ao) e diâmetro atrial esquerdo (AE). Foram calculadas as variáveis fração de encurtamento (FEC%), espessamento fracional do septo interventricular (SIV%), espessamento fracional da parede livre do ventrículo esquerdo (PLVE%) e relação entre diâmetro do átrio esquerdo e diâmetro aórtico (AE/Ao). Após 28 dias, realizou-se nova toracoscopia para inspeção da cavidade torácica. Nas avaliações do ECO no M1 e no M2, houve alteração estatisticamente significativa no PLVE em diástole (28±5,5 e 31,7±2, respectivamente) e diminuição dos parâmetros VDd,(30,1±11,6 e 31,7± 10,7) VEd (113,3±21 e 121,7±13,7), PLVEs (42±8,2 e 43,9±2,8), AE (78,5±6,1 e 82,7±4,7), VEs (74,1±16 e 71,5±9,3), FEC (34,4±10,2 e 41,2±5,7) e SIV (27,1±8,7 e 42,3±27,9). A técnica de pericardiotomia empregada mostrou-se promissora em equinos. As variações dos parâmetros ecocardiográficos foram transitórias, não causando prejuízos hemodinâmicos aos animais.(AU)

Ophthalmic and anesthetic evaluation of topical 1 percent tetracaine and 0.5 percent proparacaine in dogs / Ação anestésica e oftálmica da administração de colírio de tetracaína 1 por cento e proparacaína 0,5 por cento em cães

The aim of this study was to establish the action of 1 percent tetracaine eye drops in combination with 0.1 percent phenylephrine in two different posologies and their effects on the eye compared to the 0.5 percent proparacaine drops in dogs. 22 animals were divided into two groups: TG (11 animals), received 1 percent tetracaine associated with 0.1 percent phenylephrine eye drops, one drop instilled in the left eye and two drops, with one-minute interval between each, instilled in the right eye; PG (11 animals) received 0.5 percent proparacaine eye drops following the same dosage. The average duration of the observed anesthetic action was 25 minutes for tetracaine and 15 minutes for proparacaine. The instillation of two drops increased anesthetic time in five minutes. No changes in intraocular pressure, pupil diameter and tear production was observed. The drops of tetracaine triggered chemosis in four (36.4 percent) animals. Topical anesthesia with proparacaine eye drops showed no adverse reactions and is thus recommended preferentially.

Estudou-se a ação do colírio de tetracaína 1 por cento, em associação com a fenilefrina 0,1 por cento em duas posologias diferenciadas, bem como seus efeitos oculares, comparando-a com a do colírio de proparacaína 0,5 por cento em cães. Vinte e dois animais foram separados em dois grupos. Os do GT (n=11) receberam colírio de tetracaína 1 por cento associada à fenilefrina 0,1 por cento, sendo uma gota instilada no olho esquerdo e duas gotas, com intervalo de um minuto entre cada, instiladas no olho direito; e os do GP (n=11), receberam colírio de proparacaína 0,5 por cento seguindo a mesma posologia. A média de duração da ação anestésica observada foi de 25 minutos para a tetracaína e 15 minutos para a proparacaína. A instilação de duas gotas aumentou o tempo anestésico em cinco minutos. Não ocorreram alterações na pressão intra-ocular, no diâmetro pupilar e na produção lacrimal. O colírio de tetracaína desencadeou quemose em quatro (36,4 por cento) animais. Na anestesia tópica do olho com proparacaína não ocorreram reações adversas sendo, assim, recomendada preferencialmente.

Ultrasonography of small intestinal obstructions: a contemporary approach.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the accuracy of intestinal ultrasound for diagnosis of intestinal obstruction in dogs and cats. METHODS: A prospective clinical study was performed. Inclusion criteria were dogs and cats with clinical signs suggestive of gastrointestinal obstruction. Animals with no obstruction detected on ultrasound were excluded if they could not be monitored for 48 hours to confirm absence of obstruction. Sonographic diagnosis of small intestinal obstruction was based on identification of at least two findings suggestive of intestinal obstruction. RESULTS: Ninety-two patients suspected of having intestinal obstruction were included. Correct diagnosis of intestinal obstruction was made in 21 cases (23%), and in 68 (74%) this diagnosis was excluded. Interpretation of the images on prospective analysis had sensitivity, positive predictive, specificity and negative predictive values of 100%, 87.5%, 95.8% and 100%, respectively. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Ultrasonography is an excellent method for investigation of animals with gastrointestinal disorders, and is particularly useful for excluding obstructive processes.