No abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a laparoscopic-assisted prepubic urethorstomy (PPU) technique using rabbits as an experimental model. Six male New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) over six months old and weighing between 3 and 4kg (3.5kg ± 0.4) were used in this study. The animals underwent laparoscopic dissection of the pelvic urethra, which was then exposed for the laparoscopic-assisted urethrostomy procedure. The proposed model for training of laparoscopic-assisted PPU in rabbits was considered effective and feasible. It proved to be a simple technique even for surgeons under basic endosurgery skills training, with possibilities of employing the technique for the treatment of cats with loss of function of the distal urethra.

Lung diseases are common in small animal clinical routine. Diagnosis is usually affected due to nonspecific symptoms. Imaging features such as radiography and chest ultrasound are acceptable screening tests, although lung biopsy can provides a precise diagnosis. Thus thoracoscopy provides a minimally invasive diagnostic assessment for chest diseases and offers the benefits such as improved illumination and magnification of the image when compared with thoracotomy. In this study we evaluated the transdiaphragmatic thoracoscopic-assisted techniques of lung biopsy with a the guillotine cutting needle and biopsy forceps, in dogs presenting radiographic suspicion on pulmonary tumors. Fourteen dogs regardless of breed, gender, age and body weight admitted at the Hospital of Veterinary Clinics (HCV) of the Veterinary College (FAVET) of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), were assessed. Inclusion criteria were presence of nodules on chest radiography and triage tests without changes that could hinder general anesthesia and surgical approach. The animals were positioned in dorsal recumbence and two thoracoscopic ports were established: the first port for working instruments; the second paraxyphoid port for the telescope. Three samples were collected using each sampling method from each lesion or from tumors macroscopically similar whenever their size was less than one centimeter. The samples were sent for histopathological examination in the Veterinary Pathology Laboratory of FAVET/UFRGS. Surgical time was recorded from first incision to wound closure and surgical complications were reported. The dogs were evaluated for the presence of subcutaneous emphysema, hematoma, seroma, local infection and dehiscence. No conversion to open surgery was necessary during the thoracoscopic procedure in any patient. Thoracoscopic assisted biopsy using guillotine needle and biopsy forceps was a safe and fast technique, without perioperative complications. Both devices provided good quality samples for histopathological analysis of lung abnormalities. However the cutting guillotine needle was more efficient especially in larger pulmonary nodules. The transdiaphragmatic access provided optimal approach for both hemithoraces.

Background: Arterial blood pressure is one of the most commonly variables monitored during anesthetic procedures in veterinary patients. The most reliable method for measuring arterial blood pressure in dogs and cats is the direct (invasive) method. However, the oscillometric method is less complex and more practical for clinical routine in small animals. Nevertheless, oscillometric monitors present great variability in accuracy. The present study aimed to determine the accuracy of the Delta Life DL 1000 oscillometric monitor for measurement of systolic, mean and diastolic blood pressures (SAP, MAP and DAP, respectively) in anesthetized dogs of different weight ranges.Materials, Methods & Results: This study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of Animal Use. Fifteen female dogs of different breeds, weighing 11.6 ± 10.0 kg and with a mean age of 48 ± 51 months were used. All animals were scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia in the Institution Veterinary Hospital. Dogs were anesthetized with morphine, propofol and isoflurane and had one 20 or 22 gauge catheter introduced into the dorsal pedal artery for continuous, invasive monitoring of SAP, MAP and DAP. A blood pressure cuff was positioned over the middle third of the radius and connected to Delta Life DL 1000 monitor. Oscillometric readings of SAP, MAP and DAP were registered every 5 minutes, and invasive values were simultaneously recorded. Values obtained with both methods were compared (invasive versus oscillometric) by use of the Bland Altman method to determine the bias, standard deviation of bias and 95% limits of agreement. The percentages of errors between the methods within 10 mmHg and within 20 mmHg were calculated. The results obtained were compared with the criteria from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) for validation of indirect methods of arterial blood pressure measurement. Data were stratified into two groups according to the weight: < 10 kg (Group 1; n = 9); and ≥ 10 kg (Group 2; n = 6). In Group 1, 119 paired measurements were obtained, four of which classified as hypotension (SAP < 90 mmHg), 98 as normotension (SAP from 90 to 140mmHg) and 17 as hypertension (SAP > 140 mmHg). Bias (± SD) values in Group 1 were as follows: SAP, 5.2 ± 18.1 mmHg; MAP, -3.4 ± 17.2 mmHg; and DAP, 12.0 ± 17.5 mmHg. The percentages of errors within 10 mmHg were 40.3% for SAP; 45.4% for MAP and 28.6% for DAP. The percentages of errors within 20 mmHg were 72.3% for SAP, 84.0% for MAP and 68.1% for DAP. In Group 2, 66 paired measurements were obtained, nine of which classified as hypotension, 56 as normotension and one as hypertension. Bias (± SD) in Group 2 were as follows: SAP, 13.6 ± 14.3 mmHg; MAP, -1.1 ± 13.5 mmHg; and DAP, 8.2 ± 16.0 mmHg. The percentages of errors within 10 mmHg were 33.3% for SAP, 77.3% for MAP and 33.3% for DAP. The percentages of errors within 20 mmHg were 65.1% for SAP, 92.4% for MAP and 83.4% for DAP.Discussion: Based on the results of this study and reference criteria from the ACVIM, the Delta Life DL 1000 monitor had a poor accuracy for SAP, MAP and DAP and did not meet the criteria from the ACVIM in anesthetized dogs under 10 kg. Measurements of MAP in dogs ≥ 10 kg met the ACVIM criteria, but measurements of SAP and DAP did not. Based on the findings in this study, the DL 1000 oscillometric monitor is not recommended for blood pressure measurement in anesthetized dogs < 10 kg. In dogs ≥ 10 kg, measurements of MAP yielded acceptable values, but SAP and DAP measurements did not.

Background: Primary tracheal adenocarcinoma is a rare neoplasm in cats. The clinical signs often are indicative of upper airway obstruction accompanied with dyspnea, stridor, wheezing, exercise intolerance, and cough. The severity of the clinical signs is related to the size of the mass and consequently, the proportion of the tracheal lumen that is obstructed. The diagnosis is made using thoracic radiography and tracheobronchoscopy by collecting fragments for histopathological analysis and removing the mass. The present study aimed to report the case of a cat with tracheal adenocarcinoma.Case: A 17-year-old Persian female cat presented with clinical signs of dyspnea and progressive weight loss. Emergency therapy was started with bronchodilators, antibiotics, and corticosteroids, but there was no response to treatment. Complementary blood and imaging tests were performed. Thoracic radiography revealed soft tissue opacity overlying the dorsal trachea from the third to the fourth rib, bronchial pattern, and pulmonary hyperinflation. Tracheoscopy showed an irregular intraluminal thoracic trachea mass, occluded by approximately 95% of the airway lumen. The mass was biopsied multiple times with endoscopic cup biopsy forceps, followed by removal of approximately 50% of the mass lesion with an endoscopic wire snare. The patient was in intensive care, and since her clinical condition worsened 48 h after the endoscopic procedure, euthanasia was performed. Necropsy revealed a remanescent mass located in the trachea lumen 8 x 3 mm and a nodule in the right caudal pulmonary lobe with 8 mm of diameter . Histological examination showed epitelian cuboidal neoplastic cells with acinar patterns. Only a few mitosis and moderate anysocitosis were observed. The final diagnosis was primary tracheal adenocarcinoma with pulmonary metastasis.Discussion: The initial oxygen therapy associated with bronchodilators and antibiotics can be explained by the history of asthma. Tracheal tumors in cats are considered to be rare, which makes the diagnosis challenging. The suspicion of tracheal neoplasia was only raised after radiographic examination, but it was not possible to state whether it was intra- or extratracheal. The bronchial pattern reported herein can be observed both in inflammatory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis as well as aging-related diseases in animals. Pulmonary hyperinflation, with a caudal displacement of the diaphragm, is seen in bronchial diseases and in cases of tracheal neoplasms, with the latter justified by the retention of air in the pulmonary lobes. Dehydration and weight loss in the animal are justified by severe dyspnea, which makes it difficult to consume food and water. The tracheoscopy procedure was essential to confirm intraluminal tracheal neoplasia with almost complete lumen obstruction. An attempt was made to remove the neoplasms with polypectomy endoscopic forceps. However, because 95% of the trachea was obstructed, the manipulation led to local edema and bleeding, which promoted complete obstruction of the air passage to the lungs. The obstruction impaired the patient's oxygenation, justifying procedure suspension. The instability and worsening of the clinical picture persisted in the subsequent days, which prevented further intervention, culminating in the animal's euthanasia. Adenocarcinoma, in the present case, was in the advanced stage, evidenced by the presence of pulmonary metastasis. Dyspnea severity was related to neoplasm size, proportion of tracheal lumen obstruction, and presence of pulmonary metastasis. The tumor size associated with the presence of metastasis was a determining factor for the classification of neoplasia in the advanced stage, making more invasive interventions impossible and worsening the patient prognosis.