Objective To evaluate which rapid blood administration technique causes the least iatrogenic hemolysis in canine packed red blood cells (pRBCs) as determined by plasma free hemoglobin (fHb) and percent hemolysis (% hemolysis). Design Prospective in vitro randomized study. Setting Private referral center. Animals None. Interventions Thirteen units of canine pRBCs were divided equally into 5 aliquots, resulting in 65 trials. The aliquots of each unit were subjected to the following administration techniques: gravity‐driven (control), an infusion pump at maximal rate, application of a pressure bag, manual compression, and syringe bolus. Plasma fHb and % hemolysis were recorded before and after each trial. Rate of administration (mL/s) was calculated for each method. Measurements and main results Compared to the control, there were no significant increases in % hemolysis or plasma fHb noted among any of the trial methods. The manual compression and syringe bolus methods resulted in the fastest transfusion rates, whereas the infusion pump was not faster than the gravity‐driven method. Despite a storage time of ≤14 days, 15% of pRBC units had unsuitable (>0.8%) hemolysis before even being subjected to the trials. Conclusions Commonly used rapid infusion techniques in small animal transfusion medicine do not cause significant iatrogenic hemolysis of canine pRBCs in vitro, although a significant risk is present in stored blood. This suggests that if an expedited transfusion is needed, any method described in this study could be considered, although stored pRBCs should be tested for unsuitable levels of hemolysis prior to transfusion.

Objective: Hemolysis is an indicator of storage lesion that occurs in stored packed red blood cells (pRBCs) over time. Intermittent mixing of red blood cells in the additive solutions may be beneficial but may also result in iatrogenic injury. Position of units in storage may also affect the quality of the pRBCs. This prospective study was designed to evaluate hemolytic effect of mixing frequency and storage position on canine pRBCs over a period of 28 days. Design: Prospective in vitro studySetting: Private practice referral hospital with an internal blood bank Animals: Thirty-two healthy prescreened dogs enrolled in a volunteer blood banking program Interventions: NoneMeasurements and main results: A total of 160 samples were evaluated. Forty canine pRBC units were split into 4 daughter bags and stored in varying positions with different mixing frequencies. Samples were stored upright and mixed daily, upright and mixed weekly, horizontally and mixed daily, or horizontally and mixed weekly for a period of 28 days. At days 0, 7, 14, and 28, samples from the units were analyzed to calculate percent hemolysis. No differences were found in any hemolytic indicators investigated (total hemoglobin, free plasma hemoglobin, and packed cell volume) until day 28 in all test groups. Canine pRBCs stored upright and mixed weekly or stored horizontally and mixed weekly resulted in less hemolysis and free plasma hemoglobin when compared to units stored horizontally and mixed daily only at day 28.Conclusions: Statistically significant hemolysis was not evident amongst canine pRBC groups less than 28 days old suggesting that positioning and mixing frequency was irrelevant until day 28. Beyond 28 days despite the presence of hemolysis, no definitive recommendation could be made with respect to best practice for storage position or mixing frequency of stored canine pRBCs.

Primary hypoplasia of the portal vein with secondary portal hypertension and acquired portosystemic collateral circulation is infrequently reported in the veterinary literature. Diagnosis of this condition requires documentation of abnormal hepatocellular function, the lack of intrahepatic or extrahepatic macroscopic congenital portosystemic shunts, and liver histopathology demonstrating portal hypoperfusion in the absence of hepatic inflammation or nodular regeneration. Due to a perceived poor prognosis, many patients with this condition are euthanized; however, those that are spared can be medically managed, in some cases for years. This case report describes the diagnosis and management of a patient with primary hypoplasia of the portal vein and secondary portal hypertension that presented with the severe but typical clinical manifestations of ascites and hepatic encephalopathy, normal liver enzyme concentrations, and normal serum bile acid concentrations.