Anesthetic and cardiorespiratory effects of nitrous oxide-oxygen-sevoflrane (GOS) anesthesia with or without a constant rate infusion (CRI) of morphine (0.2 mg/kg/hr) lidocaine (3 mg/kg/hr) and ketamine (0.6 mg/kg/hr) drug combination (MLK-CRI) were evaluated in 50 dogs undergoing hemilaminectomy. All dogs premedicated with an intravenous midazolam (0.3 mg/kg) and intramuscular morphine (0.3 mg/kg) and anesthetized with an intravenous propofol (6 mg/kg). Surgical depth of anesthesia was maintained by GOS with (n=25) or without (n=25) MLK-CRI. Total anesthesia time and extubation time were 83 ± 9 and 17 ± 12 minutes in dogs anesthetized with MLK-CRI or 105 ± 20 and 4 ± 3 minutes in dogs anesthetized without MLK-CRI. The end-tidal sevoflurane concentrations during surgery were 1.50–1.85% or 1.95–2.05% in dogs anesthetized by GOS with or without MLK-CRI, respectively. The sevoflurane requirements for maintaining surgical depth of anesthesia was reduced up to approximately 27% without severe cardiovascular suppression in the dogs receiving MLK-CRI. On the other hand, controlled ventilation was indispensable during anesthesia and extubation time was prolonged in the dogs receiving MLK-CRI. In conclusion, MLK-CRI is clinically useful for sparing with anesthetic requirement and preserving cardiac function during anesthesia, however, it should be aware of respiratory suppression and possibility of prolonged recovery in dogs receiving MLK-CRI.

View full abstract

We have encountered three cases of toy poodle showing difficulty of walking due to progressive medial-lateral patellar luxation. Successful outcomes were obtained by performing surgical treatment of reinforcing a medial retinaculum. Histological examinations of the medial patella-femoral ligament of the affected dogs revealed that it consisted of structurally aberrant collagen fibrils, indicating a connective tissue disease. These results suggested the medial-lateral patellar luxation in dogs might be associated with progressive disease of the knee joint loosening. Therefore, in order to prevent re-luxation, reinforcing the medial retinaculum as well as reduction were considered to be necessary, and might be one of the options for treatment of medial-lateral patellar luxation.

View full abstract

Clamp and Rod Internal Fixation system (CRIF system) is one of the internal fixation systems, developed based on the concept of biological osteosynthesis. We treated six cases of femoral fractures including five cats and a dog using CRIF. Although some postoperative complications were encountered, successful outcomes were obtained, and all cases reached to fracture healing eventually. Based on these results, CRIF could be a useful device for fracture treatment of small animals, but careful case selection would be necessary.

View full abstract

A 15-year-old female Pomeranian presented with a protruding mass from the vulva. The mass was pedunculated and oval-shaped with a length of 33 mm, and was surgically removed under inhalation anesthesia. Histopathological examination revealed that the mass was covered by squamous cells and a large number of elongated spindle-shaped tumor cells were observed inside. The tumor cells had abundant collagen fibers which showed negative reactions to smooth muscle actin antibodies by immunohistochemical analysis. Only 6.9 % of the tumor cells were positive for the Ki-67 antigen and displayed low cellular atypia. The present case was diagnosed as vaginal wall-derived fibroma.

View full abstract