Experimental hypothermia in the dog started in Canada 55 years ago. In Japan, clinical application of hypothermia in human medicine was first conducted for the open heart surgery in 1954. At present, hypothermia is used worldwide for open heart surgeries of infants. Initially we used surface-cooling deep or profound hypothermia with ether and successfully repaired pulmonary stenosis, atrial septum defect, ventricular septum defect and mitral regurgitation (MR) in small breed dogs. Recently we are using the combined method with hypothermia using isoflurane and low flow cardiopulmonary bypass. This improved hypothermia enables us to do safer operations for severe MR or complicated cardiac anomaly of toy and small breed dogs.

View full abstract

In order to improve the repairing technique for wing fractures in wild birds, the repair of experimental humeral fractures in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) was performed using intramedullary (IM) pinning, external coaptation, or IM pinning in conjunction with external coaptation. Then the bone deformity and the outcome of rehabilitation (flight capability and joint mobility) were evaluated for the duration of recovery. In cases with IM pinning, where the injection needle was used as an IM pin, only 40% of the cases healed, although good functional recovery was obtained through accurate anatomical reduction and alignment of the fracture in successful cases. All of the birds treated with external coaptation, where a paperclip was used as a splint showed bone union. However, the deformity of the wing resulted in inadequate recovery of flight capability. When external coaptation was used in combination with IM pinning, all the cases showed fracture healing, but the level of functional recovery varied within individuals. Some suffered from an articular contracture. In clinical practice, these methods of fracture repair should be selected depending on a variety of considerations, including the patient's species and temperament, the probable duration in captivity, and the policy of the facility.

View full abstract

A six-month old, male Golden retriever with linear foreign body was referred. The ventral midline celiotomy revealed the severely injured duodenum and the jejunum with multiple perforations by the linear foreign body. The injured duodenum was impossible to be resected because it included both common bile duct and pancreatic duct openings. Moreover, the pancreas and blood vessels interfered to repair the perforation from the serosal side. Therefore, the duodenum wall opposite to the mesenteric border was incised longituginally, and then, the perforation was repaired from the mucosal membrane side. The postoperative course was very favorable. This method is thought to be useful for the case with intestinal perforation in which duodenum resection is impossible.

View full abstract