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BACKGROUND Procalcitonin (PCT) is a well-established biomarker for bacterial infection in human patients. OBJECTIVES We aimed to analyze the kinetics of plasma PCT (pPCT) in healthy dogs and dogs with canine cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture undergoing tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO). METHODS This prospective, longitudinal study included 15 healthy dogs and 25 dogs undergoing TPLO. Hematology, pPCT, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were assessed on 3 consecutive days in healthy dogs and 1 day preoperatively and days 1, 2, 10, and 56 postoperatively. Inter- and intraindividual variability of pPCT were assessed in healthy dogs. Median pPCT concentrations of dogs with CCL rupture preoperatively were compared with healthy controls, and median pPCT concentrations, as well as percentage change post anesthesia, arthroscopy, and TPLO, were compared with baseline. For the correlation analysis, the Spearman rank correlation test was used. RESULTS Inter- and intraindividual variabilities of pPCT in healthy dogs were 36% and 15%, respectively. Median baseline pPCT concentrations were not significantly different between healthy dogs (118.9 pg/mL; IQR: 75.3-157.3 pg/mL) and dogs undergoing TPLO (95.9 pg/mL; IQR: 63.8-117.0 pg/mL). Plasma PCT concentrations were significantly lower immediately post- than preoperatively (P

BackgroundGastric dilatation volvulus (GDV) can lead to organ failure including acute kidney injury (AKI). Due to its cytoprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, lidocaine has a potential to prevent AKI in dogs with GDV.Design and settingProspective, observational cohort study in client-owned dogs with GDV.ObjectiveTo determine concentrations of renal biomarkers for AKI in dogs with GDV with and without intravenous (IV) lidocaine therapy.MethodsThirty-two dogs were randomized to receive either IV lidocaine (2 mg/kg, followed by a lidocaine constant rate infusion at a dose of 50 μg/kg/min over 24 h; n = 17) or no lidocaine (n = 15). Blood and urine samples were taken at admission (T0) (only blood), during or immediately after surgery (T1), and 24 (T24) and 48 (T48) h after surgery. Plasma creatinine (pCr), plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (pNGAL), urinary NGAL (uNGAL), uNGAL to creatinine ratio (UNCR), and urinary gamma-glutamyl transferase to creatinine ratio (uGGT/uCr) were evaluated. Biomarker concentrations were compared between dogs with and without IV lidocaine and the course of each marker was determined in comparison to its admission value.ResultsIn the entire population, a significantly higher pCr at T0 (median, 95 μmol/L, interquartile range, 82–105) compared with T1 (69 μmol/L, 60–78), T24 (63 μmol/L, 52–78), and T48 (78 μmol/L, 65–87) (P < 0.001) was found. Plasma NGAL increased significantly between T0 (5.66 ng/mL, 3.58–7.43) and T24 (7.50 ng/mL, 4.01–11.89) (P = 0.006) and T48 (9.86 ng/mL, 5.52–13.92) (P < 0.001), respectively. Urinary NGAL increased significantly between T1 (0.61 ng/mL, 0.30–2.59) and T24 (2.62 ng/mL, 1.86–10.92) (P = 0.001) and T48 (4.79 ng/mL, 1.96–34.97 (P < 0.001), respectively. UNCR increased significantly between T1 (0.15 μg/mmol, 0.09–0.54) and T24 (1.14 μg/mmol, 0.41–3.58) (P = 0.0015) and T48 (1.34 μg/mmol, 0.30–7.42) (P < 0.001), respectively. Concentrations of uGGT/uCr increased significantly from T0 highest at T24 (6.20 U/mmol, 3.90–9.90) and significantly decreased at T48 (3.76 U/mmol, 2.84–6.22) (P < 0.001). No significant differences in any renal biomarker concentration were found between dogs with and without IV lidocaine therapy.Conclusion and clinical relevancePlasma NGAL, uNGAL and UNCR remained increased up to 48 h post-surgery. No evidence of lidocaine-associated renoprotection was found.

Objective: Intravenous hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions are potentially nephrotoxic due to rapid renal tissue uptake, subsequent osmotic nephrosis, and long-lasting intracellular storage. This study aimed to investigate the severity of intracellular storage of HES in renal tissue samples from critically ill dogs receiving 6% HES 130/0.4.Materials and Methods: Fresh, post-mortem (Results: Histology revealed that 2/20 dogs (10%) had no, 11/20 dogs (55%) had mild, 5/20 dogs (25%) had moderate, and 2/20 dogs (10%) had severe VAC. Immunohistochemistry revealed that 5/20 dogs (25%) had no, 6/20 dogs (30%) had mild, 7/20 dogs (35%) had moderate, and 2/20 dogs (10%) had severe ACC. Both changes were predominantly found in the distal tubular epithelium of mild and moderate cases, and all tubular segments were affected in severe cases. Seven of 20 dogs (35%) had osmotic nephrosis (ON). On electron microscopy, large granules with an electron-dense content were repeatedly detected in individual cells, mainly in the distal tubules. No correlation was found between cumulative HES dose or duration of HES administration and VAC grade, ACC grade, or presence/absence of ON.Conclusion: A high percentage of dogs had renal tubular HES storage and one-third of dogs showed HES-induced ON. Short-term HES administration caused VAC and ACC, regardless of the dose or duration of administration. In contrast to previous studies, HES 130/0.4 deposits were mainly located in the renal distal tubule.

Viscoelastic testing as a bedside test to assess global haemostasis has gained popularity in the past decade, with rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) and thromboelastography (TEG) being the two commonly used devices. TEG studies suggest analysis 30 min after blood sampling. However, the reproducibility of results over time for ROTEM analysis using lyophilized samples in dogs has not been established. In this study, we investigated the influence of time on viscoelastic testing, using 33 healthy staff-/client-owned dogs for blood sampling and repeated measurements of ROTEM tracings at three different time points after blood collection. Additionally, a group of 21 hospitalized patients with suspected coagulation disorders were included to investigate whether stability over time was comparable between healthy and ill dogs. We demonstrated a significant difference of ROTEM tracings over time, with a tendency towards hypocoagulability over time. These changes do have a clinical relevance as they exceed reference intervals and could therefore lead to erroneous conclusions about a patient’s coagulation status. Therefore, time-specific reference intervals are proposed and presented in this publication.

Thromboelastometry provides a real-time assessment of global coagulation in whole blood. A novel bed-side viscoelastic coagulation monitor (VCM) has been developed for use in small animals. The aims of the study were to determine inter-device agreement of two VCM devices, to evaluate the correlation between VCM and rotational thromboelastometry as a reference method (ROTEM), and to determine the sensitivity and specificity of VCM to diagnose hypo-, normo-, and hypercoagulability. ROTEM (extrinsic and intrinsic activation) analysis was performed using citrated blood and VCM analysis using native blood. Twenty healthy and forty diseased dogs with and without coagulopathies were enrolled. The VCM inter-device agreement was moderate to strong for most of the parameters, depending on the grading scale. Correlation between VCM and ROTEM was moderate to strong for parameters of clotting time and clot strength. The VCM most likely detects true hypocoagulability and reliably rules out hypocoagulability. The VCM has a high sensitivity in diagnosing normocoagulability, but incorrectly classified dogs with abnormal coagulation as normocoagulable. The VCM was not able to detect hypercoagulability. ROTEM and VCM cannot be used interchangeably.

Objective: This study aims to describe an unusual peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia (PPDH) in an 8-month-old German shepherd dog, associated with a pericardial pseudocyst and coexisting severe pericardial effusion resulting in right-sided heart failure.Case Summary: An 8-month-old, male, intact, German shepherd dog, was referred for ascites. Echocardiography revealed a severe pericardial effusion with a cyst-like structure within the pericardium and consequently decompensated right-sided heart failure. The ascites was secondary to right-sided heart failure (cardiac tamponade). Computed tomography (CT) of the thorax and abdomen was performed and showed PPDH with severe pericardial effusion and presence of a pericardial cyst-like structure; xyphoid cleft and Y-shaped seventh sternebra; and mild thickening along the cranioventral abdominal wall consistent with scar tissue from the previous umbilical hernia surgical repair. During surgery, the PPDH was corrected, and it was revealed that the remnant of the umbilical cord passed through it, into the pericardium. The cyst-like structure was successfully resected and sent for pathology. Histopathology showed signs of a chronic suppurative inflammation, with absence of a mesothelial or endothelial wall layer, thus consistent with a pseudocyst. Based on tomographic and surgical findings, it is suspected that the pseudocyst, together with the pericardial effusion, evolved by an inflammation of the remnant of the umbilical cord during the umbilical hernia surgical repair 1 month prior to presentation. The underlying PPDH most likely favored the development of the pericardial pseudocyst. However, due to prior antibiotic therapy initiated by the private vet, an infectious origin cannot be ruled out completely.New or Unique Information Provided: There are a few case reports describing PPDH and/or pericardial pseudocysts in veterinary patients, but the current case report is unique, since it describes PPDH associated with a pericardial pseudocyst and coexisting severe pericardial effusion resulting in cardiac tamponade. As far as the authors know, such a case has not been described in veterinary medicine before.

Background: The degree of systemic inflammation, reperfusion injury and endothelial activation are potentially important determinants of clinical outcomes in dogs with gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV).Objective: To evaluate plasma concentrations and kinetics of inflammatory markers in dogs with GDV over a time frame of 48 h, and to compare to healthy dogs.Design and Setting: Prospective, observational cohort study in client-owned dogs with GDV.Materials and Methods: Fifteen dogs with GDV and 9 healthy control dogs were enrolled. Plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-15, IL-18, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), keratinocyte chemotactic-like, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, Angiopoietin (Ang)-2, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured at admission (prior any therapeutic intervention, (T0), immediately after surgery (T1), 24 ± 4 h (T24), and 48 ± 4 h (T48) post-surgery. Cytokines were measured using multiplex magnetic bead assay. Plasma Ang-2 was measured with a commercial human ELISA test kit validated for dogs.Results: Dogs with GDV had significantly higher plasma concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-10 compared to healthy control dogs at all time points. Concentrations of IL-6 were significantly higher at T1 and T24, concentrations of MCP-1 at T24, and concentrations of CRP at T24 and T48. A significant increase between T0 and T1 was found for IL-6, IL-10, and CRP, between T1 and T24 for IL-8, IFN-γ, MCP-1, and CRP, and between T24 and T48 for IL-15, Ang-2, and CRP. A significant decrease between T0 and T1 was found for IL-7, IL-8, IL-15, IL-18, and Ang-2; between T1 and T24 for IL-6 and KC-like; and between T24 and T48 for IL-6.Conclusion: In GDV dogs, a mild pro-inflammatory reaction was present at admission, which peaked immediately after and up to 24 h post-surgery, mainly represented by IL-6, IFN-γ, MCP-1, and CRP, and which decreased at T48. In addition, the anti-inflammatory IL-10 was increased in GDV dogs at all time points.

The use of synthetic colloids (SCs), particularly hydroxyethyl starch (HES), in people has changed in recent years following new evidence raising concerns about their efficacy and safety. Although fluid therapy guidelines for small animals are often extrapolated from human medicine, little information exists on current practice in veterinary medicine. The objective of the present study was to investigate current fluid selection, use of plasma volume expanders including SCs, and recent changes in their use in small animal practice. An Internet-based survey was conducted, inviting veterinarians to report their practices in fluid resuscitation and colloid osmotic pressure support, their choice of SC, and perceived adverse effects and contraindications associated with SC use. There were 1,134 respondents from 42 countries, including 46% general practitioners and 38% diplomates. Isotonic crystalloids, HES, and hypertonic saline were chosen by most respondents for fluid resuscitation, and HES by 75% of respondents for colloid osmotic support. Dextran and gelatin were used by some European respondents. Human serum albumin was used more than canine albumin but 45% of respondents, particularly those from Australia and New Zealand, used no albumin product. The majority (70%) of respondents changed their practice regarding SCs in recent years (mostly by limiting their use), largely due to safety concerns. However, only 27% of respondents worked in an institution that had a general policy on SC use. Impaired renal function, coagulopathy, and hypertension were most often considered contraindications; impaired coagulation tests and increased respiratory rate were the most frequently perceived adverse effects. The use of HES remains widespread practice in small animals, regardless of geographic location. Nevertheless, awareness of safety issues and restrictions on the use of SCs imposed in human medicine seems to have prompted a decrease in use of SCs by veterinarians. Given the paucity of evidence regarding efficacy and safety, and differences in cohorts between human and veterinary critical care patients, studies are needed to establish evidence-based guidelines specific for dogs and cats.