Hun-Young Yoon

Clinical effect of additional electroacupuncture on thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniation in 80 paraplegic dogs.

The clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture and acupuncture in combination with medication for the treatment of thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniation was investigated in paraplegic dogs with intact deep pain perception. To evaluate the additional effect of electroacupuncture, dogs treated with conventional medicines alone were compared to dogs treated with electroacupuncture and acupuncture and conventional medicine. Medical records of 80 dogs were reviewed for this investigation and classified into two groups undergoing different treatment methods: (1) treatment with conventional medicine alone (Group C, n = 37) and (2) treatment with conventional medicine combined with electroacupuncture and acupuncture (Group CE, n = 43). Prednisone was the conventional medicine and electroacupuncture was applied at GV07 and GV02-1 at 0.5-2.5 mV, mixed Hz of 2 and 15 Hz for 25-30 min. Acupuncture was performed locally at urinary bladder meridian points near the lesion, and bilaterally distantly at GB30, GB34, and ST36. Treatment efficacy was evaluated by post-operative neurologic function, ambulation, relapse, complication, and urinary function. Ambulation recovery was more prevalent in Group CE than Group C (p = 0.01) and recovery of ambulation and back pain relief time was shorter in Group CE compared to Group C (p = 0.011 and 0.001, respectively). Relapse rate was significantly lower in Group CE (p = 0.031). The results suggest that a combination of electroacupuncture and acupuncture with conventional medicine is more effective than conventional medicine alone in recovering ambulation, relieving back pain, and decreasing relapse. Electroacupuncture and acupuncture is thus a reasonable option for the treatment of intervertebral disc herniation in paraplegic dogs with intact deep pain perception.

Evaluation of the effects of topical zinc gluconate in wound healing.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of topical zinc gluconate on healing, analgesia, and bacterial growth of full-thickness rat skin wounds. STUDY DESIGN Experimental study. ANIMALS Male Wistar rats (n = 98) METHODS: One full-thickness round 2 cm × 2 cm surgically created wound on the dorsum of each rat received 1 of the following randomized treatments: zinc gluconate in carrier solution, carrier solution, saline (0.9% NaCl) solution, chlorhexidine, chlorhexidine + zinc gluconate, corticosteroid, and no treatment. At 4 and 21 days, biopsy samples were taken for histopathology. Bacterial cultures were performed on day 4. Subjective pain scores and weight were recorded daily. RESULTS No significant differences were noted among the groups except the corticosteroid group, in which delayed healing was noted at 4 and 21 days. Bacterial isolates were similar and no differences in pain scores or weight gain were noted among groups. The wounds treated with corticosteroid at day 4 had decreased inflammatory cells and serocellular crust formation, and minimal neovascularization and granulation tissue formation. At day 21, that group had prolonged neutrophilic inflammatory cells, immature fibrosis, less re-epithelialization, and more prominent serocellular crust. CONCLUSION Wounds treated with zinc gluconate healed similarly and contained similar bacterial load as wounds with other topical treatments except for corticosteroids. No treatment demonstrated the negative effects seen with topical corticosteroid nor did any demonstrate analgesic advantage.

Surgical correction of pectus excavatum in two cats

Two sexually intact male Bengal cats, one a 4-month-old weighing 2.8 kg and the other, a 3-month-old weighing 2.0 kg, were presented to the University of Missouri-Columbia Veterinary Teaching Hospital for evaluation of respiratory distress. On initial presentation, both cats were dyspneic, exercise intolerant, and had marked concave deformation of the caudal sternum. Surgical correction of pectus excavatum was performed using a cylindrical external splint and U-shaped external splint. Post-operative thoracic radiography revealed that there was decreased concavity of the sternum and increased thoracic height at the level of the caudal sternebrae in both cats.

Bilateral ureteral ectopia with renal dysplasia and urolithiasis in a dog.

A 7-month-old, 4.3-kg, spayed female bichon frise was referred for evaluation of chronic urinary incontinence. Abdominal radiographs revealed calculi within the right kidney and ureter. An ultrasound revealed a small right kidney. An abdominal computed tomography scan with contrast revealed that the left ureter was extramurally ectopic, inserting into the proximal urethra. A right intramural ectopic ureter was identified during cystotomy. Ureteronephrectomy was performed on the right, and ureteroneocystostomy was performed on the left. A telephone conversation with the owner 4 months after surgery revealed that the dog exhibited no evidence of urine dribbling, and urinary continence was maintained well on phenyl-propanolamine (1.75 mg/kg orally q 12 hours). This is the first report of successful surgical management of bilateral ureteral ectopia with concurrent, unilateral, renal dysplasia and urolithiasis.

Comparison of the amounts of air leakage into the thoracic cavity associated with four thoracostomy tube placement techniques in canine cadavers

OBJECTIVE To compare the amount of air leakage into the thoracic cavity associated with each of 4 thoracostomy tube placement techniques in canine cadavers. SAMPLE POPULATION 28 canine cadavers. PROCEDURES Thoracostomy tube placement techniques (7 cadavers/technique) included subcutaneous tunneling with a silicone tube by use of Carmalt forceps or with a polyvinyl chloride tube by use of a trocar (SC-CARM and SC-TRO, respectively) and tunneling under the latissimus dorsi muscle with similar tube-instrument techniques (LD-CARM and LD-TRO, respectively). Differences in intrapleural pressures (IPPs) measured before and after tube placement and before and after tube removal were calculated; duration of air leakage around the tubes was assessed by use of a 3-chamber thoracic drainage system. RESULTS Tunneling method and depth had no interaction effect on the difference in IPP measured before and after tube placement; the IPP difference for both forceps technique groups was significantly greater than findings for both trocar technique groups. Tunneling method and depth had an interaction effect on the difference in IPP measured before and after tube removal; compared with SC-TRO and LD-CARM group differences, the SC-CARM group difference was significantly greater, but the LD-TRO group difference was similar. More intermittent air leakage was associated with the 2 forceps techniques than with the 2 trocar techniques. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Trocar-implemented thoracostomy tube placement in canine cadavers resulted in less air leakage than the forceps method. Air leakage upon tube removal was less pronounced for the LD-CARM technique than the SC-CARM technique. The LD-TRO technique is recommended to prevent iatrogenic pneumothorax in dogs.

Surgical Correction of Pseudo-flail Chest Using Interfragmentary Wiring, Latissimus Dorsi Flap, and External Splinting in a Dog

A 7-year-old intact female Maltese dog presented with a history of bite wounds. Physical examination revealed labored breathing, four puncture wounds with subcutaneous emphysema of the thorax, and paradoxical respiratory movement of the right thoracic wall. On radiography, a segmental fracture of the right 7th rib and a single fracture of the 8th rib were evident on the dorsal thorax. An inward displacement of the fractured segment and contusion of the right caudal lung lobe were identified with computed tomography. A diagnosis of pseudo-flail chest was made. Exploratory thoracotomy revealed a full-thickness muscular defect, a marked discoloration of the right caudal lung lobe, a segmental fracture of the right 7th rib, and a single fracture of the right 8th rib. Necrotic tissues were removed using surgical debridement. The fractured 7th and 8th ribs were corrected using a single interfragmentary wiring technique. The thoracic wall was reconstructed using the latissimus dorsi muscle flap. Additional thoracic stabilization using a thermoplastic splint was applied to correct paradoxical respiratory movement. The external splint was removed 4 weeks postoperatively. There was no evidence of respiratory abnormalities 18 months postoperatively.