Kinematic MRI (kMRI) is a novel human imaging technique that couples the excellent soft tissue contrast and multiplanar capabilities of traditional MRI with kinematic potential. The study’s goals are: (1) testing the feasibility of spinal cord and joints real-time kMRI; and (2) evaluating the quality of these kinematic studies as a new diagnostic option in veterinary medicine. Standard and real-time kinematic MRI were performed on cervical spine, elbow, and stifle joints of seven cadavers. Studies were repeated after a surgical insult aimed to create a certain degree of joint instability. A total of 56 MRI were performed—7 cervical spinal tracts, 3 elbow joints, and 4 stifle joints were examined. The technique was feasible in all the three regions examined. The images were considered of excellent quality for the stifle joint, good to fair for the cervical spine, whereas two of three elbow studies were considered to have unacceptable image quality. Additionally, real-time kMRI provided good to excellent information about stifle instability. Therefore we consider kMRI a promising technique in veterinary medicine. Further studies and an in vivo setting are needed to increase the quality of the kMRI images, and to fully evaluate clinical usefulness.

Chronic non-septic pleural effusion is a condition that frequently may occur because of lung or pleural neoplasia, or chylothorax refractory to surgical treatment, in dogs. Effusion management can be performed with multiple pleurocenteses or the application of chest drains. New modified vascular devices have been used for patients with chronic diseases; they offer the advantage of allowing home management and do not require hospitalization. Eight PleuralPortTM devices were applied in seven dogs during thoracoscopic exploration and biopsy procedures; five were affected by mesothelioma; one by lung metastases from a mammary carcinoma; and one by chronic chylothorax. The median time of surgical procedure was 51 min; one developed pneumothorax post-operatively that resolved within 12 h after repeated drainage; one device was obstructed after 45 days and was successfully managed by flushing. All patients were discharged after 24 h. The median duration of port insertion in cancer patients was 5 months and those dogs were euthanized because of tumor progression; in the dog with chylothorax, the device was removed after 1 year when the effusion had resolved.