Research in veterinary science
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Comparative Study
Agreement of invasive and non-invasive blood pressure measurements in anaesthetised pigs using the Surgivet V9203.
The automated oscillometric method is a common method for measuring blood pressure non-invasively and is broadly and confidently used in the veterinary setting. Twenty-one pigs undergoing anesthesia for exploratory laparotomy were enrolled in a study to evaluate the performance of the Surgivet V9203 non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) monitor. The aim was to compare measurements of arterial blood pressure obtained simultaneously using the Surgivet V9203 oscillometric system and an intra-arterial catheter-transducer system, both at the level of the metatarsus. ⋯ Bland-Altman analysis showed poor agreement between the two modalities based on evaluation of mean bias and 95% limits of agreement. The Surgivet V9203 cannot therefore be recommended as a reliable alternative to invasive blood pressure monitoring in anaesthetised pigs. As pulse detection is one of the most important factors affecting NIBP accuracy it is likely that our findings may reflect an anatomical or physiological difference in the species that alters the detection of wall movement by the oscillometric technique and additionally, makes the algorithm used by the Surgivet to determine blood pressure parameters unsuitable for use in pigs.
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The validity of behavioural indicators to assess unconsciousness under different slaughter conditions is under (inter)national debate. The aim of this study was to validate eyelid-, withdrawal-, threat reflex and rhythmic breathing as indicators to assess unconsciousness in sheep. Sheep were monitored during repeated propofol anaesthesia (n=12) and during non-stunned slaughter (n=22). ⋯ Threat reflex and rhythmic breathing correlated with EEG activity during propofol anaesthesia whilst absence of non-rhythmic breathing or threat reflex indicated unconsciousness. None of the behavioural indicators correlated with EEG activity during non-stunned slaughter. Absence of regular breathing and eyelid reflex was observed 00:27±00:12 min and 00:59±00:17 min (mean±SD) respectively after animals were considered unconscious, indicating that absence of regular breathing and eyelid reflex are distinctly conservative indicators of unconsciousness during non-stunned slaughter in sheep.
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This study aimed to assess precision of viscoelastic measurements of feline blood using the ROTEM delta analyser and to establish reference intervals. Intra-assay-variability was evaluated by analysing samples of two cats in quadruplicate. Reference intervals were established based on 55 clinically healthy European shorthair cats including different sexes and age groups. ⋯ Only sporadically, differences between the individual age groups were found. In conclusion, analysis of feline blood using the ROTEM analyser showed acceptable reproducibility. The established reference intervals may be a useful orientation for measurements of feline blood using the ROTEM delta analyser.
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Providing a pre-operative prognosis for dogs presented with absent deep pain perception (DPP) is extremely challenging, as the overall recovery rates widely vary. This study assesses the possible correlation between the severity of spinal cord injury and CSF cytology in 31 paraplegic dogs presented with absent DPP due to acute thoracolumbar intervertebral disc herniation (TL-IVDH). ⋯ MΦ:M of 0.73 and higher corresponded to a sensitivity of 54% and specificity of 100% for prediction of a negative long-term outcome. CSF TNCC, macrophage percentage and MΦ:M ratio effectively predicted regaining DPP and the long-term outcome in dogs that lost DPP due to acute TL-IVDH.
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The purpose of this study was to identify factors that prolong the time to extubation in dogs. Anesthetic records of 900 dogs at a university teaching hospital were searched. ⋯ Time to extubation was increased by 0.311 minutes for every kilogram increase in body weight (P = 0.000), 5.924 minutes for every 1 °C loss in body temperature (P = 0.0000), and by 0.096 minutes for every 1 minute increase in anesthetic duration (P = 0.000). Anesthetic variables, which can be manipulated by the anesthetist, include choice of premedication and induction drugs, hypothermia, and duration of anesthesia.