José Murciano

Clinical and radiographic study of bone and joint lesions in 26 dogs with leishmaniasis.

Twenty-six dogs with parasitologically confirmed leishmaniasis and abnormalities of gait were studied to determine the most common radiological patterns of bone and joint lesions. The clinical findings included either lameness, joint pain and crepitation, soft tissue swelling and/or muscle atrophy. Bone lesions were observed radiographically in 12 of the 26 dogs; the radius and ulna were affected in seven, the tibia in six and the femur in six. Joint lesions were observed radiographically in 15 of the 26 dogs; the carpus and stifle were affected in all 15, and the tarsus in nine. There was a tendency for the bones and joints to be affected bilaterally. The radiographic patterns observed were different in the long bones and the joints. In the long bones, the most common pattern was periosteal and intramedullary proliferation, involving the diaphyses and related to the nutrient foramen; in the joints, two patterns, either non-erosive or erosive polyarthritis with soft-tissue swelling, were observed. The changes observed in the synovial fluid were associated in most cases with osteolytic lesions. However, Leishmania organisms were identified in the synovial fluid from joints without bony radiographic changes.

Comparative study of air coagulation, fibrin sealant, and suture in experimental liver injury

OBJECTIVE To test the effects of hot air coagulation, fibrin sealant, and horizontal mattress sutures on haemostasis and regeneration in experimental hepatectomy. DESIGN Randomised laboratory experiment. SETTING Teaching hospital, Spain. MATERIAL 200 rats divided into four groups (three experimental [n=60 in each] and one control [n=20]). INTERVENTIONS Hepatic injuries were repaired by suture, coagulation, or fibrin sealant in the three experimental groups. The control group was used only to supply baseline blood samples. 10 animals in each experimental group were killed at 3, 5, 10, 25, 40, and 60 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Time taken to achieve haemostasis, and histopathological scores of healing. RESULTS Mattress sutures took mean (SEM) of 346 (7) seconds to control the haemorrhage and allow the liver to regain its shape and 4 rats developed abscesses (7%). Fibrin sealant achieved haemostasis immediately and the liver regained its shape in 58 (2) seconds; 2 rats (3%) developed abscesses. Hot air coagulation achieved haemostasis in 27 (1) seconds and there were no abscesses. CONCLUSION Fibrin sealant was the best technique because it achieved immediate haemostasis and speedy regeneration. However, hot air coagulation is a useful and cheaper alternative.

IMAGING DIAGNOSIS-INFILTRATIVE LIPOMA CAUSING SPINAL CORD AND LUMBAR NERVE ROOT COMPRESSION IN A DOG

A 12-year-old, male, fox terrier dog presented with an abnormal gait of the left pelvic limb. Computed tomography revealed a large, homogeneous, hypoattenuating, noncontrast enhancing mass within the left epaxial muscles that invaded the L5-6 vertebral canal and caused spinal cord compression. Imaging findings were consistent with an infiltrative lipoma. The mass was removed and a left hemilaminectomy was performed in the affected area. Histopathology confirmed the mass to be an infiltrative lipoma. The dog recovered and regained neurologic function within 2 weeks. Computed tomography assisted preoperative planning by characterizing the shape, size, and location of the mass.

Plasma levels and urinary excretion of iodine after oral administration of iohexol in dogs and cats.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES.Plasma and urinary iodine concentrations were assessed after oral administration of iohexol in five dogs and five cats. MATERIALS AND METHODS.Ventrodorsal and right lateral radiographs were taken; a 3-mL blood sample was collected 30 minutes and 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours after dose in each animal; and the bladder was emptied at 2 and 6 hours in dogs and at 6 hours in cats after oral administration of 700 mg I/kg iohexol (300 mg I/mL). Iodine concentration was measured using a sequential inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer system. RESULTS.Peak concentrations of plasma iodine were detected in samples taken from both dogs (0.33 mg I/mL) and cats (0.28 mg I/mL) 30 minutes after iohexol administration, with a gradual decline at 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours. Total urinary excretion during the 6 hours after the administered dose of iohexol was higher (4.3%) in cats than in dogs (2.0%). In each species, there was a relationship between gastrointestinal motility observed radiographically and the subsequent excretion of iodine in the urine. CONCLUSIONS.Results indicate that approximately 2% of the oral dose is absorbed and excreted in the urine of dogs within 6 hours, and approximately 4% of the dose is absorbed and excreted in cats.

Ultrasound-guided administration of lidocaine into the sciatic nerve in a porcine model: correlation between the ultrasonographic evolution of the lesions, locomotor function and histological findings.

Intraneural puncture of local anaesthetics has been associated with permanent or transitory nerve injury. The use of ultrasound (US)-guided techniques for the blockade of peripheral nerves has revealed that intraneural puncture is a relatively common complication, which is not frequently associated with neurological deficits. In this study, 2.5 mL of lidocaine were administered using US-guidance into the sciatic nerve (ScN) of 12 piglets. The punctured nerves were sequentially evaluated by US (cross sectional area and relative echogenicity) before and immediately after the injections, and then at 1, 2, 4, 7 and 14 days. At these times, animals were euthanased two by two at each time point, and ScN samples were removed for histological examination. Cross sectional area and relative echogenicity values were statistically different immediately after the injections, returning to pre-puncture values within 4 days. The inflammatory process observed by histopathology showed a similar trend indicating that the integrity of the perineurium was maintained. Locomotor deficits were not observed. The increase in size of the ScN produced by the injection of lidocaine intraneurally did not induce motor deficits in piglets in the current study.

Local and systemic effects of water-soluble contrast media and barium in rats with chronic small bowel obstruction.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES.The local effects on the small intestine and systemic changes produced by different contrast media in small bowel obstruction, with time courses of 4 days, were evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS.Four groups, each with 10 normal rats and another four groups (also each with 10 rats) that had ligation of the terminal ileum (obstructed rats) for 4 days were given 3 mL of barium, meglumine sodium diatrizoate, iohexol, or saline (control animals). Radiographs were taken immediately, 1 and 4 hours after administration of contrast media. Immediately before sacrifice, blood samples were taken to determine the hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cell count (WBC), red blood cell count (RBC), and serum sodium, and potassium and chloride concentrations. Specimens of small bowel were taken for histologic and morphometric analysis. RESULTS.In obstructed rats, the image quality with iohexol improved on final radiographs despite being diluted in the great intestinal contents. There was an improvement in the serum electrolyte concentrations in the obstructed animals that were given any one of the contrast media, the best improvement being in the iohexol groups. A shortening of the length of epithelial cells when any one of the contrast media was administered was observed, as was an increase in the lymphatic space area in the diatrizoate group in normal rats. In the bowel proximal to the obstruction, the lymphatic space area was increased in the diatrizoate group and the size of the epithelial cells was higher in the diatrizoate and iohexol groups compared to the barium and saline groups. CONCLUSION.Our results suggest that iohexol offers good radiologic efficacy and excellent systemic and local tolerance in small bowel obstruction.