Compendium : continuing education for veterinarians
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Compend Contin Educ Vet · Jan 2013
ReviewSurgical views: thoracoscopy: basic principles, anesthetic concerns, instrumentation, and thoracic access.
Thoracoscopic surgery offers an exciting method for treating a variety of thoracic disease processes. To date, several thoracoscopic procedures have been described in veterinary patients. This article discusses the basic principles of thoracoscopic surgery and thoracic access, anesthetic concerns, and required instrumentation. A companion article discussing the surgical techniques of thoracoscopic pericardial window creation, subphrenic pericardectomy, thoracoscopic lung biopsy, lung lobectomy, thoracic duct ligation, and cranial mediastinal mass excision will be published in the February 2013 issue.
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Compend Contin Educ Vet · Dec 2012
ReviewAspiration pneumonia in dogs: pathophysiology, prevention, and diagnosis.
Aspiration pneumonia and aspiration pneumonitis are associated with significant morbidity in veterinary and human medicine. A variety of medical conditions and medications can predispose patients to aspiration, and every precaution should be taken to prevent aspiration from occurring. For dogs that aspirate oral or gastric contents and subsequently develop pneumonia, monitoring and supportive care are imperative. This article discusses the pathophysiology, prevention, and diagnosis of aspiration pneumonia.
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Compend Contin Educ Vet · Dec 2012
ReviewAspiration pneumonia in dogs: treatment, monitoring, and prognosis.
Aspiration pneumonia and aspiration pneumonitis are associated with significant morbidity in both veterinary and human medicine. A variety of medical conditions and medications can predispose patients to aspiration. Ideally, aspiration should be prevented, but in dogs that develop aspiration pneumonia, close monitoring and supportive care are imperative. This article describes antimicrobial treatment, fluid therapy, ancillary medical therapy, oxygen therapy, and prognosis for aspiration pneumonia.
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Brachycephalic airway syndrome (BAS) is a group of primary and secondary abnormalities that result in upper airway obstruction. Several of these abnormalities can be addressed medically and/or surgically to improve quality of life. This article reviews potential complications, anesthetic considerations, recovery strategies, and outcomes associated with medical and surgical management of BAS.
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Compend Contin Educ Vet · Jan 2012
ReviewCentral venous pressure: principles, measurement, and interpretation.
Central venous pressure (CVP), an estimate of right atrial pressure, has been used to assess cardiac preload and volume status in critically ill patients, assist in the diagnosis of right-sided heart failure, and guide fluid resuscitation. It is determined by the interaction between cardiac function and venous return. CVP measurements are relatively easy to obtain; however, because of the complex relationship between CVP, cardiac output, and the vascular system, they may be difficult to interpret. This article reviews the physiologic principles of CVP, indications for its use, technical aspects and pitfalls of CVP measurements, and interpretation of the information obtained.