Endotracheal intubation has been associated with several complications in cats. The v‐gel supraglottic airway device (SGAD) has been developed to adapt to the unique oropharynx of the cat and to overcome these complications. Thirty‐three cats were randomly assigned to receive an endotracheal tube (ETT group) or a v‐gel SGAD (v‐gel group) after induction of general anaesthesia. Third year veterinary students without previous clinical experience placed these devices under direct supervision of an anaesthesiologist. Amount of propofol, number of attempts, time required to secure the airway, leakage around the device, signs of upper airway discomfort and food consumption were compared between the two groups. The v‐gel group required less propofol (P=0.03), less time (P<0.01) and fewer attempts (P<0.01) to secure the cats’ airway. The incidence of leakage was lower for the v‐gel group immediately after placement of the device (P<0.01) and 60 minutes after induction of general anaesthesia (P=0.04). Cats that received the v‐gel SGAD presented a lower incidence of upper airway discomfort immediately after the device was removed (P=0.03) and recorded a higher food consumption score (P=0.03). The v‐gel SGAD is a feasible way to secure the airway of healthy cats when performed by inexperienced personnel.
To compare the ability of acetaminophen-codeine (AC; 15.5 to 18.5 mg/kg and 1.6 to 2.0 mg/kg, respectively) or carprofen (4.2 to 4.5 mg/kg) administered PO to attenuate experimentally induced lameness in dogs.7 purpose-bred dogs.A blinded crossover study was performed. Dogs were randomly assigned to receive AC or carprofen treatment first and then the alternate treatment a minimum of 21 days later. Synovitis was induced in 1 stifle joint during each treatment by intra-articular injection of sodium urate (SU). Ground reaction forces were assessed, and clinical lameness was scored at baseline (before lameness induction) and 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours after SU injection. Plasma concentrations of acetaminophen, carprofen, codeine, and morphine were measured at various points. Data were compared between and within treatments by repeated-measures ANOVA.During AC treatment, dogs had significantly higher lameness scores than during carprofen treatment at 3, 6, and 9 hours after SU injection. Peak vertical force and vertical impulse during AC treatment were significantly lower than values during carprofen treatment at 3, 6, and 9 hours. Plasma concentrations of carprofen (R)- and (S)-enantiomers ranged from 2.5 to 19.2 μg/mL and 4.6 to 25.0 μg/mL, respectively, over a 24-hour period. Plasma acetaminophen concentrations ranged from 0.14 to 4.6 μg/mL and codeine concentrations from 7.0 to 26.8 ng/mL, whereas plasma morphine concentrations ranged from 4.0 to 58.6 ng/mL.Carprofen as administered was more effective than AC at attenuating SU-induced lameness in dogs.
To determine the minimum alveolar concentration that blunts adrenergic responses (MACBAR) for isoflurane and evaluate effects of fentanyl on isoflurane MACBAR in sheep. ANIMALS 13 healthy adult Dorset-cross adult ewes.In a crossover design, each ewe was anesthetized 2 times for determination of isoflurane MACBAR. Anesthesia was induced with propofol administered IV. Sheep initially received fentanyl (5 μg/kg, IV, followed by a constant rate infusion of 5 μg/kg/h) or an equivalent volume of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (control treatment). After a washout period of at least 8 days, the other treatment was administered. For MACBAR determination, a mechanical nociceptive stimulus (ie, sponge forceps) was applied at the coronary band for 1 minute. The MACBAR values of the 2 treatments were compared by means of a paired t test. During MACBAR determination, blood samples were collected for measurement of plasma fentanyl concentration.Mean ± SD isoflurane MACBAR of the fentanyl and control treatments was 1.70 ± 0.28% and 1.79 ± 0.35%, respectively; no significant difference was found between the 2 treatments. Plasma concentration of fentanyl reached a median steady-state concentration of 1.69 ng/mL (interquartile range [25th to 75th percentile], 1.47 to 1.79 ng/mL), which was maintained throughout the study.Administration of fentanyl at 5 μg/kg, IV, followed by a constant rate infusion of the drug at 5 μg/kg/h did not decrease isoflurane MACBAR. Further studies to determine the effect of higher doses of fentanyl on inhalation anesthetic agents and their potential adverse effects are warranted.
By means of monoclonal antibodies against surface antigens of mononuclear cells we examined alterations of T-cell-subpopulations of peripheral blood and liver tissue in the course of acute HBsAg-negative hepatitis. Used methods for determination were the immunofluorescence for blood lymphocytes, respectively the peroxidase-anti-peroxidase-(PAP)-technique for round-cell-infiltrates of the liver based on paraffin fixed sections. The focus of attention was the relation of T4-(helper/inducer) to T8-(suppressor/cytotoxic) cells, the so-called immuno-regulatory quotient. With advancing improvement in the course of the disease we observed in peripheral blood a decrease of T4+/T8+ ratio from very high (3.6) to normal (1.9) values. By examination of the tissue round-cell-infiltrates we found a contrary behaviour to the peripheral blood with a low T4+/T8+ ratio in the liver, characteristic to more acute phases and due to an T8+-cell interchange between periphery and liver. This may be common for all virus diseases and without specificity for defined types of acute hepatitis. Beside this exists the possibility T4+/T8+ ratio has any prognostic value.
Abstract Both pet and research pigs can suffer from some degree of pain from surgery, injuries, or osteoarthritis (OA). Despite this, there is a paucity of data on safe and effective analgesia agents in pigs. Grapiprant is an EP4 antagonist that blocks the action of the pro‐inflammatory prostanoid, PGE 2 . It has shown efficacy in attenuating pain associated with ovariohysterectomy and OA in dogs. However, there are no data regarding grapiprant in pigs. Therefore, the pharmacokinetic profile of orally administered grapiprant to juvenile pigs ( Sus scrofa domestica ) was evaluated in this study. Seven juvenile pigs received 12 mg/kg grapiprant orally. Blood was collected from an indwelling jugular catheter using the push–pull method at set timepoints up to 48 hours. Sample analysis was performed with high‐performance liquid chromatography. Mean grapiprant plasma concentration was 164.3 ± 104.7 ng/mL which occurred at 0.8 ± 0.3 h. This study demonstrated that grapiprant concentrations consistent with analgesia in dogs were reached at this dosage in pigs. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of grapiprant in pigs.