Evaluation of the Effect of Induced Endotoxemia on ROTEM S® and Platelet Parameters in Beagle Dogs Anaesthetized with Sevoflurane

Endotoxemia is thought to induce severe changes in coagulation status. In this study, blood samples from six beagle dogs receiving 1 mg/kg E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intravenously were analyzed to describe the concurrent changes in platelet count, platelet function assessed with impedance thromboaggregometry, thromboelastometry and d-dimers during artificially induced endotoxemia and its therapy with fluids and vasopressors at five timepoints (baseline, after LPS and 30 mL/kg Ringer’s acetate, during noradrenaline ± dexmedetomidine infusion, after a second fluid bolus and a second time after vasopressors). Results were analyzed for changes over time with the Friedman test, and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. We found decreased platelet count and function and changes in all platelet-associated rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) variables indicating hypocoagulability, as well as increases in d-dimers indicating fibrinolysis within one hour of intravenous administration of LPS, with partial recovery of values after treatment and over time. The fast changes in platelet count, platelet function and ROTEM variables reflect the large impact of endotoxemia on the coagulation system and support repeated evaluation during the progress of endotoxemic diseases. The partial recovery of the variables after initiation of fluid and vasopressor therapy may reflect the positive impact of the currently suggested therapeutic interventions during septic shock in dogs

Evaluation of leukocyte depletion of packed red blood cell units and impact on clinically observed transfusion reactions

Introduction: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine whether there is an association between leukoreduction of packed red blood cell (pRBC) units and reduction of clinically observed transfusion reactions (TR), particularly febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reactions (FNHTR), and better outcomes in dogs. Secondary aims were to evaluate the effects of other factors suspected to influence transfusion reaction frequency or survival, including crossmatching, use of immunosuppressive drugs, and age and number of the blood products being administered. Materials and methods: Medical data on dogs transfused with leukocyte-reduced (LR) and non-leukocyte-reduced (N-LR) pRBC units at the Animal Hospital Zürich, University of Zürich, Switzerland between January 1, 2007, and December 17, 2018 were searched. Before 2014, only N-LR blood were transfused. After 2014, both LR and N-LR blood were available. Results: A total of 339 canine patients were transfused with 413 pRBC units; 30.5% (126/413) were LR units and 69.5% (287/413) were N-LR. Data collected from medical records was analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. In the present study, TR occurred in 19.8% of pRBC units (25/126) with LR and in 17.7% (51/287) of pRBC with N-LR; p &gt; 0.05. FNHTR occurred in 6.3% of pRBC units (8/126) with LR and in 4.5% (13/287) of those with N-LR; p &gt; 0.05. There was no correlation between the occurrence of TR and discharge from hospital (p &gt; 0.05). Crossmatching, immunosuppressive therapy, and age of the blood product were not associated with the frequency of TR; p &gt; 0.05 for all. The duration of survival days was not related to the number of transfusions dogs received. Discussion: In the present study, the leukocyte-depletion of transfused pRBC units was not associated with fewer TR nor to fewer FNHTR compared to N-LR units. Discharge of dogs from hospital was not dependent on the occurrence of TR

Anaesthetic management of three Maine Coon cats undergoing hybrid intervention for treatment of cor triatriatum sinister

This report describes the anaesthetic management of three Maine Coon cats undergoing hybrid cutting balloon dilatation for treatment of cor triatriatum sinister. In cat 1, cor triatriatum sinister was an incidental finding during routine transthoracic echocardiographic screening. Cats 2 and 3 presented with tachypnoea and underwent preoperative therapy with diuretics and antithrombotics. All cats were premedicated with fentanyl. Anaesthesia was co-induced with midazolam and either etomidate (cats 1 and 2) or alfaxalone (cat 3). Sevoflurane, a fentanyl continuous-rate infusion and a dexmedetomidine continuous-rate infusion were used for maintenance of anaesthesia. Intravenous methadone, epidural morphine and methadone, an intercostal block and a subcutaneous wound splash with local anaesthetics complemented the analgesic protocol. Intraoperative complications included arrhythmias, bleeding, hypotension and hypothermia. Postoperative emergence delirium and haemothorax developed in two and one cat, respectively. All three cats recovered well and were discharged home

Intraperitoneal and incisional ropivacaine did not improve postoperative analgesia after multimodal anaesthesia compared with saline in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy

Intraperitoneal administration of local anaesthetics may reduce postoperative pain after ovariohysterectomy in dogs. The aim of this prospective, randomised, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial was to compare postoperative analgesia and opioid requirements after intraperitoneal and incisional administration of ropivacaine versus 0,9% NaCl (saline). Forty-three client-owned dogs were enrolled in the study and anaesthetised using a standardized protocol that included premedication with acepromazine (0,03–0,05mg/kg) and dexmedetomidine (0,01mg/kg) intramuscularly. Anaesthesia was induced with propofol titrated to effect and ketamine (1mg/kg) intravenously and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. The analgesic regimen included carprofen (4mg/kg) subcutaneously and morphine (0,2mg/kg) intravenously. Depending on group assignment, each dog received either an intraperitoneal and incisional splash with ropivacaine (2mg/kg and 1mg/kg, respectively) (group R), or an equal volume of saline (group S). Buprenorphine (0,02mg/kg) was administered intramuscularly once the uterus was removed. Sedation and pain were assessed 0,5, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours after extubation using a sedation scale, the short form of the Glasgow Composite Pain Scale (CMPS-SF) and a dynamic interactive visual analogue scale (DIVAS). Postoperatively, buprenorphine (0,01mg/kg) was administered intravenously if dogs scored 6/24 on CMPS-SF.The ordinal mixed model showed no difference in pain scores between groups. Fisher’s exact test showed no significant difference in postoperative buprenorphine requirements between group S (3/22 dogs) and group R (1/21 dogs) at the doses used. In addition, lower sedation scores were associated with higher DIVAS scores. In this multimodal analgesic protocol, ropivacaine could not improve analgesia compared to saline

Delivery of non-viral naked DNA vectors to liver in small weaned pigs by hydrodynamic retrograde intrabiliary injection

Hepatic gene therapy by delivering non-integrating therapeutic vectors in newborns remains challenging due to the risk of dilution and loss of efficacy in the growing liver. Previously we reported on hepatocyte transfection in piglets by intraportal injection of naked DNA vectors. Here, we established delivery of naked DNA vectors to target periportal hepatocytes in weaned pigs by hydrodynamic retrograde intrabiliary injection (HRII). The surgical procedure involved laparotomy and transient isolation of the liver. For vector delivery, a catheter was placed within the common bile duct by enterotomy. Under optimal conditions, no histological abnormalities were observed in liver tissue upon pressurized injections. The transfection of hepatocytes in all tested liver samples was observed with vectors expressing luciferase from a liver-specific promoter. However, vector copy number and luciferase expression were low compared to hydrodynamic intraportal injection. A 10-fold higher number of vector genomes and luciferase expression was observed in pigs using a non-integrating naked DNA vector with the potential for replication. In summary, the HRII application was less efficient (i.e., lower luciferase activity and vector copy numbers) than the intraportal delivery method but was significantly less distressful for the piglets and has the potential for injection (or re-injection) of vector DNA by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

\uc9tiopathog\ue9nie des oed\ue8mes pulmonaires non cardiog\ue9niques

L\u2019oed\ue8me pulmonaire est une accumulation anormale de liquide dans le compartiment extravasculaire pulmonaire. Il convient d\u2019en diff\ue9rencier deux types : la forme cardiog\ue9nique et la forme non cardiog\ue9nique. Cette derni\ue8re r\ue9sulte d\u2019une augmentation de la perm\ue9abilit\ue9 de la barri\ue8re alv\ue9olo-capillaire, parfois associ\ue9e \ue0 une \ue9l\ue9vation de la pression hydrostatique pulmonaire. Les causes d\u2019oed\ue8me pulmonaire non cardiog\ue9nique sont multiples, et il convient de les conna\ueetre et d\u2019identifier les caract\ue9ristiques pathog\ue9niques de chacune afin d\u2019assurer une prise en charge th\ue9rapeutique optimale

OEd\ue8mes pulmonaires non cardiog\ue9niques : outils diagnostiques et prise en charge th\ue9rapeutique

L\u2019oed\ue8me pulmonaire non cardiog\ue9nique est une accumulation anormale de liquide dans le compartiment extravasculaire pulmonaire secondaire \ue0 de multiples causes. Pour assurer une prise en charge optimale de l\u2019animal, il convient tout d\u2019abord de diagnostiquer l\u2019existence d\u2019un oed\ue8me pulmonaire, de distinguer une forme non cardiog\ue9nique d\u2019une forme cardiog\ue9nique et enfin d\u2019en identifier l\u2019origine. Pour cela, l\u2019anamn\ue8se, l\u2019examen clinique et les examens compl\ue9mentaires sont d\u2019autant d\u2019outils \ue0 la disposition du clinicien. Une stabilisation rapide de l\u2019animal doit \ueatre une priorit\ue9 absolue. Par la suite, une th\ue9rapeutique plus sp\ue9cifique et adapt\ue9e \ue0 la cause de l\u2019oed\ue8me pourra \ueatre envisag\ue9e

Anästhesie einer Katze mit komplexer Herzfehlbildung

Bei einer äußerlich gesunden, zweijährigen weiblichen Maine Coon wurde als Ursache eines präanästhetisch auskultierten Herzgeräusches IV/VI eine komplexe Herzfehlbildung diagnostiziert. Die Katze wies einen Double-chambered Right Ventricle, einen Ventrikelseptumdefekt (VSD) sowie eine Mitralklappendysplasie auf. Für die elektive Ovariektomie wurde die Katze unter Rücksicht auf die fragile kardiovaskuläre Situation nach einem balancierten Protokoll anästhesiert und engmaschig überwacht. Nach intravenöser (i. v.) Prämedikation mit Fentanyl wurde die Anästhesie mit Alfaxalon und Midazolam eingeleitet und mit Sevofluran in Sauerstoff und Luft sowie einer Fentanyl-Dauertropfinfusion aufrechterhalten. Zusätzliche lokalanästhetische Maßnahmen vervollständigten die perioperative Analgesie. Zur Unterstützung des Kreislaufs wurde auf kleiner Rate Dopamin verabreicht. Nach initialer mechanischer Beatmung konnte die Katze ausreichend spontan atmen. Unterstützt wurde sie durch vorsichtige Lagerung und konstantes Wärmemanagement. Invasive Blutdruckmessung sowie arterielle Blutgasanalysen ergänzten das grundlegende Monitoring. Für die postoperative Analgesie wurde Buprenorphin verabreicht. Die Anästhesie und Aufwachphase verliefen komplikationslos und die Katze konnte am selben Tag nach Hause entlassen werden