Results suggest that a small percentage of dogs with cervical spinal disorders may require perioperative ventilatory support. With prolonged PPV and aggressive management, a good outcome may be achieved in dogs similar to those described in the present study.

To describe treatment complications following intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) for retinoblastoma. Methods: A retrospective interventional series of ophthalmic artery cannulation for IAC injection (3 planned sessions at 1-month intervals) was undertaken. Thirty-eight catheterizations of 17 eyes of 17 patients were performed from September 2008 to September 2010. Fluoroscopy of the ophthalmic artery was performed before and immediately after treatment. Heparin was given during the procedure and aspirin (40 mg) was given orally for 1 week. The treatment complications were determined. Results: Only 17 of 190 children were selected for treatment with IAC during this period. Following successful ophthalmic artery cannulation in 16 cases, there was no evidence of metastasis, stroke, brain injury, or persistent systemic toxic effects. Fluoroscopy demonstrated patent ophthalmic artery immediately before and after IAC injection in each case. Following therapy, orbital and adnexal findings at 1 month included eyelid edema (n=13), blepha-roptosis (n=10), cilia loss (n=1), and orbital congestion with temporary dysmotility (n=12). These findings resolved within 6 months in all cases. Following therapy, vascular findings included ophthalmic artery stenosis (permanent in 3 cases, temporary in 1 case), confirmed on fluoroscopy in 3 cases. Concomitant central or branch retinal artery occlusion was noted (permanent in 2 cases, temporary in 1 case). Subtle retinal pigment epithelial mottling in 9 cases that slowly evolved to later-onset underlying choroidal atrophy in 5 cases was noted. Conclusions: Treatment with IAC for retinoblastoma can lead to mild and severe short-term ocular complications, including eyelid edema as well as potentially blinding vascular obstruction. This procedure should be used with caution.

Bite wounds in 37 dogs were prospectively evaluated. Ninety-five percent of animals presented within 12 hours of injury. The most common wound locations were neck, limbs, head, chest, shoulder region, and abdomen. Eighty-six percent had wounds to multiple locations. Fifty-seven percent of wounds were Class 4 (i.e., most severe). Based on results of all samples, 65% had positive aerobic cultures, 15% had positive anaerobic cultures, and 33% had negative cultures. The most commonly isolated aerobic bacteria were Staphylococcus intermedius, Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus coagulase negative, and Escherichia coli. Most common anaerobic isolates were Bacillus spp., Clostridium spp., and Corynebacterium spp. Severe bite wounds had a high rate of bacterial contamination at presentation. No single antibiotic or antibiotic combination was effective against all bacteria that were cultured.

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We studied the in vivo antifungal activity of azoles in humans and in a murine model of disseminated trichosporonosis. Eight patients infected with Trichosporon species were treated with fluconazole, SCH 39304, or miconazole for 2-26 weeks. Four patients had fungemia, two patients had disseminated trichosporonosis, and one patient each had soft-tissue infection and cystitis. Response of trichosporonosis to azoles was seen in all eight patients, although one patient died with disseminated aspergillosis while still receiving SCH 39304. A literature review indicated that responses to ketoconazole or miconazole were noted in four patients with trichosporonosis. In the experimental infection, amphotericin B, SCH 39304, and fluconazole were effective in prolonging survival and reducing fungal counts in the kidneys of mice infected with a clinical strain of Trichosporon beigelii. Fluconazole but not amphotericin B prolonged survival of mice infected with a clinical strain of Trichosporon capitatum. We conclude that azoles represent effective therapy for infection with Trichosporon species.