Rottura traumatica della trachea nel gatto: due casi

La rottura tracheale traumatiche nel gatto è riportata sporadicamente in letteratura. In questo studio vengono riportati due casi, uno in cui i sintomi clinici risultano evidenti e gravi subito dopo il trauma, l'altro in cui i sintomi si sono manifestati dopo circa ventisei giorni dal presunto trauma. I due casi sono accomunati dall'assenza di segni radiografici indiretti quali pneumotorace, pneumomediastino ed enfisema sottocutaneo. I riscontri radiografici e tomografici includono l'assenza di soluzione di continuità della parete tracheale con un sensibile restringimento del diametro tracheale nel primo caso e nel secondo caso uno “pseudodiverticolo” disposto tra due porzioni tracheali stenotiche. Grazie ad una tecnica chirurgica adeguata ed un'attenta gestione anestetica la prognosi di entrambi i gatti è stata eccellente. La rottura tracheale nel gatto è una patologia rara, ma che deve essere sempre tenuta in considerazione nelle diagnosi differenziali dei pazienti dispnoici, per poterne ricercare i segni radiologici difficilmente identificabili ed approntare una chirurgia d'elezione

Two-dimensional shear wave elastography of liver in healthy dogs: anaesthesia as a source of variability

Two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) is a non-invasive method to quantitatively evaluate the liver sti ness (LS), allowing the detection of hepatic pathological changes in both dogs and humans. In dogs, some factors such as patient movement and respiration can cause artefacts and potential errors of measurements. Therefore, anaesthesia has been suggested to reduce the e ect of the movement on 2D-SWE in dogs. This study was performed to evaluate the in uence of an anaesthetic protocol on 2D-SWE measurements for assessment of LS in healthy dogs. Forty- ve dogs were included and subjected to anaesthesia: in 11 dogs, the 2D- SWE was performed both before and under anaesthesia, in 19 dogs, the 2D-SWE was per- formed only when they were awake and in 15 dogs, the examination was carried out only under anaesthesia. The anaesthetic protocol was composed of intramuscular injection of a combination of dexmedetomidine, methadone and ketamine and intravenous administration of propofol for induction and iso urane for maintenance. The variability of 2D-SWE values according to anaesthesia was evaluated. Median 2D-SWE values were signi cantly higher in anesthetized dogs compared to awake dogs either by considering separately the dogs in which the examination was performed both awake and under anaesthesia and by considering all dogs included. According to our study, anaesthesia helped to avoid challenges related to patient movement and respiration; however, it was a source of variability on 2D-SWE values, and this factor should be considered before performing 2D-SWE under anaesthesia

Affezioni della "superficie oculare" in cani con dermatite atopica

La dermatite atopica è la seconda più frequente forma di allergia cutanea nel cane e colpisce il 3-15% della popolazione canina. Nei soggetti affetti c’è una predisposizione ereditaria a produrre in maniera eccessiva IgE specifiche nei confronti di allergeni volatili ambientali e dei pollini. Nei cani affetti da dermatite atopica è possibile riscontrare patologie oftalmiche a carico degli annessi e della “superficie oculare”. Lo scopo di questo lavoro è, da una parte, quello di fornire tutte le informazioni utili per un completo e corretto approccio alle patologie oculari riscontrabili in soggetti atopici e, dall'altra, quello di stimare la prevalenza con la quale si manifestano le affezioni oculari in cani con dermatite atopica. A tal fine sono stati valutati 50 cani,di razze diverse e appartenenti a entrambi i sessi, giunti al Dipartimento di Clinica Veterinaria dell'Università di Pisa nel periodo compreso tra ottobre 2008 e aprile 2010 e nei quali è stata formulata diagnosi di dermatite atopica. Trenta soggetti (60%) presentavano affezioni oculari che, in ordine di frequenza, erano la congiuntivite allergica, la blefarite allergica e la cheratocongiuntivite secca. I risultati del presente studio evidenziano come la superficie oculare e gli annessi siano coinvolti frequentemente in corso di dermatite atopica

TWO-DIMENSIONAL SHEAR WAVE ELASTOGRAPHY OF LIVER IN HEALTHY DOGS: ANAESTHESIA AS A SOURCE OF VARIABILITY

Two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) is a non-invasive method to quantitatively evaluate the liver stiffness (LS), allowing the detection of hepatic pathological changes in both dogs and humans. In dogs, some factors such as patient movement and respiration can cause artefacts and potential errors of measurements. Therefore, anaesthesia has been suggested to reduce the effect of the movement on 2D-SWE in dogs. This study was performed to evaluate the influence of an anaesthetic protocol on 2D-SWE measurements for assessment of LS in healthy dogs. Forty-five dogs were included and subjected to anaesthesia: in 11 dogs, the 2D-SWE was performed both before and under anaesthesia, in 19 dogs, the 2D-SWE was performed only when they were awake and in 15 dogs, the examination was carried out only under anaesthesia. The anaesthetic protocol was composed of intramuscular injection of a combination of dexmedetomidine, methadone and ketamine and intravenous administration of propofol for induction and isoflurane for maintenance. The variability of 2D-SWE values according to anaesthesia was evaluated. Median 2D-SWE values were significantly higher in anesthetized dogs compared to awake dogs either by considering separately the dogs in which the examination was performed both awake and under anaesthesia and by considering all dogs included. According to our study, anaesthesia helped to avoid challenges related to patient movement and respiration; however, it was a source of variability on 2D-SWE values, and this factor should be considered before performing 2D-SWE under anaesthesia

Ultrasonographic Findings of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in Dogs

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a syndrome characterized by insufficient synthesis of pancreatic enzymes leading to clinical symptoms of malabsorption and maldigestion. There are no studies about ultrasonographic appearance of the pancreas with EPI in dogs. The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe ultrasound features of the pancreas during EPI in this species. Dogs with history and clinical signs of maldigestion, serum canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity (cTLI) values <5 µg/L, and abdominal ultrasound exam were included in the study. Size, shape, margin, echogenicity, echostructure, and pancreatic duct appearance of the right pancreatic lobe were valued. Additional sonographic intestinal findings were recorded. Thirty-four dogs were included. The mean pancreatic thickness in our population was significantly lower than the mean reference values of healthy dogs. In 68% of dogs, the pancreas had a normal ultrasound appearance. Ultrasonographic intestinal abnormal findings were identified in 85% of dogs and were suggestive of inflammatory bowel disease. Despite the fact that EPI is a functional diagnosis, ultrasound evaluation should be considered among the useful tests. The finding of a normal but thinned pancreas associated with sonographic intestinal signs of inflammatory bowel disease in dogs with typical history and supportive clinical signs could suggest a diagnosis of EPI

Ultrasonographic Monitoring in 38 Dogs with Clinically Suspected Acute Pancreatitis

Abdominal ultrasound examinations (AUEs) are commonly used in the diagnostic evaluation of canine acute pancreatitis (AP). The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate and monitor the ultrasonographic changes observed in dogs with clinically suspected AP on consecutive AUEs. The study population was constituted by 38 client-owned dogs hospitalized for no less than 48 h from January 2016 to December 2019. Dogs included in this study were suspected of AP based on the clinical examination and abnormal rapid specific canine pancreatic lipase test performed at admission. Dogs were submitted to two AUEs, the first on the first day of hospitalization, and the second between 40-52 h after the first one. Twelve dogs had both AUEs suggestive of AP. Fourteen dogs received an ultrasonographic diagnosis of AP exclusively on the second AUE. Twelve dogs remained negative on both the first and the second AUE. In 26 out of 38 patients the second AUE was suggestive of AP. If a patient is suspected of AP, it is advisable to carry out ultrasonographic monitoring at least within the first 52 h after admission, since ultrasonographic signs of AP may only become observable later after hospitalization

Pseudomembranous Cystitis: An Uncommon Ultrasound Appearance of Cystitis in Cats and Dogs

In veterinary medicine, pseudomembranous cystitis (PC) is a rare condition described only in cats. The purposes of this retrospective study were to describe ultrasound features of PC in cats and dogs, predisposing factors, comorbidities and outcomes. Cats and dogs with an ultrasonographic diagnosis of PC were included in the study. The bladder ultrasound findings that were recorded were: pseudomembranes’ characteristics, abnormalities of the bladder’s wall and content and anomalies of the pericystic peritoneal space. Ten cats and four dogs met the inclusion criteria. Four pseudomembrane adhesion patterns were described. The presence of pseudomembrane acoustic shadowing was observed in the 60% of cats. A total of 80% of the cats included were presented for urethral obstruction (UO) and/or had at least one episode of UO in the previous 2 months. Thirteen patients out of fourteen received only medical therapy, and all of them survived. PC is a rare disorder in cats and dogs and there are some ultrasonographic differences between the two species, suggesting a greater severity of the pathology in cats. Chronic cystitis and UO may have a potential role in the development of feline PC. Finally, the medical approach can be a non-invasive and effective approach for PC

Ultrasonographic appearance and possible clinical relevance of hyperechoic foci of mineralization in the canine intrahepatic biliary tree

Background: The evidence of mineralizations in the canine liver is usually considered an incidental finding of unclear clinical significance, frequently observed in small size old dogs. Aim: To describe the ultrasound features of intrahepatic biliary tree foci of mineralization, to assess their clinical relevance and their possible relationship with other gastrointestinal pathological disorders. Methods: A retrospective analysis evaluating the database of canine patients admitted to two referral veterinary centers we carried out. All dogs under study underwent an abdominal ultrasound examination in which intrahepatic biliary tree mineralization was found. Clinical and anamnestic data of the included dogs were reviewed. Results: Approximatively 90% of the patients showed ultrasonographic abnormalities regarding the biliary system, and over 85% presented ultrasonographic abnormalities of the hepatic parenchyma. In 81.2% of dogs, ultrasonographic anomalies in the digestive tract were observed. In approximately the half of our patients, we evidenced increased liver enzymes (ALP, ALT and GGT). At clinical evaluation, 84.4% (23 out of 32 dogs) of patients showed signs of gastrointestinal disease that persisted for over three months. Conclusion: The presence of intrahepatic biliary tree mineralizations is an unusual and frequently incidental finding that could be related to a bile stasis condition, a chronic inflammatory disease involving the biliary system and the hepatic parenchyma, and it could be associated to a liver-gut axis alteration. [Open Vet J 2023; 13(5.000): 541-549