Occurrence and recurrence of gastric dilatation with or without volvulus after incisional gastropexy.

This study investigated recurrence of gastric dilatation without (GD) or with volvulus (GDV) after incisional gastropexy (IG) in dogs that underwent IG for prevention of GDV. Signalment, concurrent surgical procedures, presence of GD or GDV at the time of IG were obtained from medical records of dogs that underwent IG. Owners were contacted to determine whether the dogs experienced GD or GDV after IG, dates of postoperative GD or GDV episodes, survival status, date of death for deceased dogs. Gastric dilatation and GDV recurrence rates were calculated for 40 dogs that had at least 2 y follow-up from the time when IG was performed and for dogs that experienced GD or GDV during the follow-up period. No dogs experienced GDV after IG and 2 dogs (5.0%) experienced GD after IG. The results suggest that GD and GDV rates after IG may be comparable to recurrence rates after other methods of gastropexy.

Occurrence et récurrence de la dilatation gastrique avec ou sans volvulus après une gastropexie incisionnelle. Cette étude a examiné la récurrence de la dilatation gastrique sans volvulus (DG) ou avec volvulus (DGV) après une gastropexie incisionnelle (GI) chez les chiens qui avaient subi une GI pour la prévention de la DGV. Le signalement, les interventions chirurgicales concomitantes, la présence de la DG ou de la DGV au moment de la GI ont été obtenus dans les dossiers médicaux de chiens qui ont subi une GI. On a contacté les propriétaires pour déterminer si les chiens avaient eu une DG ou une DGV après la GI, les dates des épisodes postopératoires de DG ou de DGV, l'état de la survie et la date de la mort pour les chiens décédés. Les taux de récurrence de la dilatation gastrique et de la DGV ont été calculés pour 40 chiens qui ont eu un suivi d'au moins 2 ans à partir de la réalisation de la GI et pour les chiens qui avaient eu une DG ou une DGV durant la période de suivi. Aucun chien n'a eu une DGV après une GI et 2 chiens (5,0 %) ont connu une DG après la GI. Les résultats suggèrent que les taux de DG et de DGV peuvent être comparables aux taux de récurrence après d'autres méthodes de gastropexie.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).

Thoracic duct ligation and pericardectomy for treatment of idiopathic chylothorax.

Chylothorax is a devastating disease, and the success rates from either medical or surgical management are less than satisfactory. In some animals with chylothorax, a thickening of the pericardium occurs that is associated with chronic irritation induced by chyle. We hypothesized that pericardial thickening would lead to increased right-sided venous pressures and that abnormal venous pressures would act to impede the drainage of chyle via lymphaticovenous communications after thoracic duct (TD) ligation. We also hypothesized that serosanguineous effusions that occurred after TD ligation could effectively be treated or prevented by pericardectomy in affected animals. TD ligation plus pericardectomy was performed in 17 animals, and pericardectomy alone was performed in an additional 3 animals that presented during a 5.5-year period to the Texas A&M University (College Station, TX). Nineteen animals presented for an evaluation of idiopathic chylothorax (9 dogs and 10 cats), and 1 dog presented for serosanguineous pleural fluid after TD ligation that had been performed elsewhere. Echocardiography was normal in all animals, except for a subjectively thickened pericardium in 7 cats and 6 dogs. Clinical signs of pleural fluid accumulation resolved in 10 of 10 dogs and in 8 of 10 cats after surgery. The overall success rate for the surgical treatment of chylothorax (ie, the resolution of pleural fluid accumulation) in this study was 90% (100% in dogs and 80% in cats). These data suggest that TD ligation in conjunction with pericardectomy has a favorable outcome in animals with idiopathic chylothorax.

Evaluation of gradual occlusion of the caudal vena cava in clinically normal dogs.

OBJECTIVES: To devise a technique for gradual occlusion of the caudal vena cava in dogs and determine effects of complete occlusion of the caudal vena cava. ANIMALS: 8 mixed-breed hounds that weighed between 25 and 30 kg. PROCEDURE: Baseline evaluation of dogs included serum biochemical analyses and determination of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) with dynamic renal scintigraphy and plasma clearance analysis. An occluder was placed around the vena cava in the region cranial to the renal veins. The occluder was attached to a vascular access port. The vena cava was gradually occluded over 2 weeks. The GFR was measured every 2 weeks after surgery, and venograms were performed every 3 weeks after surgery. Blood samples were collected every 48 hours for the first week and then weekly thereafter to measure BUN and creatinine concentrations and activities of alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and creatinine kinase. Dogs were euthanatized 6 weeks after surgery, and tissues were submitted for histologic examination. The GFR and biochemical data were compared with baseline values. RESULTS: Gradual occlusion of the caudal vena cava was easily and consistently performed with this method, and adverse clinical signs were not detected. Formation of collateral vessels allowed overall GFR to remain constant despite a decrease in function of the left kidney. Measured biochemical values did not deviate from reference ranges. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Gradual occlusion of the caudal vena cava may allow removal of adrenal gland tumors with vascular invasion that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to resect.

Biocompatibility of three-dimensional chondrocyte grafts in large tibial defects of rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate biocompatibility and effects of implantation of 3-dimensional chondrocyte-agarose autografts in tibial defects in rabbits and to compare in vitro and in vivo chondrocyte-agarose constructs with respect to cell viability, differentiation, and matrix production. ANIMALS: 24 adult New Zealand White rabbits. PROCEDURE: Three-dimensional constructs with (grafted group) or without (control group) autogenous chondrocytes were implanted into tibial defects of rabbits and cultured in vitro. During an 8-week period, defects were evaluated radiographically, grossly, histologically, biochemically, and immunohistochemically. In vitro constructs were evaluated histologically, biochemically, and immunohistochemically. RESULTS: Tibial defects had significantly higher radiographic densitometry values at 4 and 6 weeks after implantation in grafted group rabbits, compared with control group rabbits. Number of observed centers of endochondral ossification was significantly greater in defects of grafted group rabbits, compared with control group rabbits. On day 14, glycosaminoglycan concentration was significantly higher in tibial defects of grafted group rabbits, compared to defects of control group rabbits or in vitro constructs. At weeks 2, 4, and 8, glycosaminoglycan concentrations were significantly lower in the in vitro control constructs, compared with other groups. Collagen type I was present in bone and bony callous in defects of grafted and control group rabbits. Collagen type II was identified in cartilaginous tissues of grafted and control group rabbits. Collagen type X was associated with hypertrophic chondrocytes. Only type II collagen was found in the in vitro chondrocyte constructs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Chondrocyte-agarose grafts are biocompatible in large tibial defects and appear to provide a cell source for augmenting endochondral ossification.