Meningioma em cão: Relato de caso

As neoplasias intracranianas estão entre as principais causas de disfunção cerebral em cães geriátricos, sendo o meningioma o mais comumente diagnosticado. É um tumor extra axial que surge de uma das três meninges, principalmente da aracnoide. Geralmente são classificados histologicamente como benignos, mas podem apresentar caráter biológico maligno devido as alterações intracranianas primárias e secundárias que podem ocorrer. A idade média para o surgimento é de nove anos de idade e tem como principal sinal clínico, o surgimento de crises epilépticas, mas outros sinais clínicos podem ocorrer dependendo da localização, extensão e taxa de crescimento. Objetivou-se com esse trabalho relatar um caso de meningioma intracraniano em lobo frontal de um cão da raça Pastor Belga, com seis anos de idade que foi atendido na clínica veterinária universitária da UFNT, com histórico de crises epilépticas de caráter progressivo e que durante avaliação foi observado head press e déficits visuais.

Bloqueio locorregional do plano transverso abdominal em gata submetida a ovariohisterectomia e cistotomia: Relato de caso

O bloqueio do plano transverso abdominal (Tap Block) é uma técnica de anestesia locorregional que consiste na aplicação do anestésico local no plano inter-neurofascial, promovendo bloqueio da pele, músculos e peritônio parietal da parede abdominal ventral nos animais. O objetivo do trabalho foi relatar o uso do bloqueio do plano transverso abdominal em gata submetida à ovariohisterectomia e cistotomia. Foi atendida na Clínica Veterinária Universitária uma gata para atendimento pré-cirúrgico de castração. O tutor relatou que aplicava vacina anti-cio e desde então observou aumento de volume abdominal. Realizaram-se exames laboratoriais de hemograma, bioquímicos (Alanina Amino Trasnferase-ALT, fosfatase alcalina, ureia e creatinina), proteínas totais e frações e ultrassonografia abdominal, sendo que neste observou-se cálculo em vesícula urinária e piometra/hemometra/mucometra. O paciente foi encaminhado para realizar ovariohisterectomia terapêutica e cistotomia. A medicação pré-anestésica consistiu em midazolam (0,2 mg/kg), cetamina (2 mg/kg), metadona (0,3 mg/kg) e acepromazina (0,03mg/kg) todos por via intramuscular. Vinte minutos após MPA, inseriu-se o cateter 22G na veia cefálica direita e em seguida o animal foi encaminhado para a sala de ultrassonografia para realizar o bloqueio locorregional. Posicionou-se o animal em decúbito dorsal e realizou-se a anestesia locorregional do plano transverso do abdômen guiada por ultrassom, com bupivacaína (0,2 ml/kg) diluída 1:2 em água para injeção distribuída em quatro pontos do abdômen. No centro cirúrgico, efetuou-se a indução anestésica com propofol dose efeito e para manutenção da anestesia, optou-se pelo sevofluorano. Durante a monitoração anestésica não se observou alterações hemodinâmicas que revelassem nocicepção no animal, devido ao uso do bloqueio locorregional. A recuperação se deu de maneira rápida, sem observar-se sinais de dor no comportamento animal, mostrando a eficácia analgésica do bloqueio e a importância do mesmo na rotina anestésica.

Validation of the UNESP-Botucatu pig composite acute pain scale (UPAPS)

The creation of species-specific valid tools for pain assessment is essential to recognize pain and determine the requirement and efficacy of analgesic treatments. This study aimed to assess behaviour and investigate the validity and reliability of an acute pain scale in pigs undergoing orchiectomy. Forty-five pigs aged 38±3 days were castrated under local anaesthesia. Behaviour was video-recorded 30 minutes before and intermittently up to 24 hours after castration. Edited footage (before surgery, after surgery before and after rescue analgesia, and 24 hours postoperatively) was analysed twice (one month apart) by one observer who was present during video-recording (in-person researcher) and three blinded observers. Statistical analysis was performed using R software and differences were considered significant when p<0.05. Intra and inter-observer agreement, based on intra-class correlation coefficient, was good or very good between most observers (>0.60), except between observers 1 and 3 (moderate agreement 0.57). The scale was unidimensional according to principal component analysis. The scale showed acceptable item-total Spearman correlation, excellent predictive and concurrent criterion validity (Spearman correlation ≥ 0.85 between the proposed scale versus visual analogue, numerical rating, and simple descriptive scales), internal consistency (Cronbach's α coefficient >0.80 for all items), responsiveness (the pain scores of all items of the scale increased after castration and decreased after intervention analgesia according to Friedman test), and specificity (> 95%). Sensitivity was good or excellent for most of the items. The optimal cut-off point for rescue analgesia was ≥ 6 of 18. Discriminatory ability was excellent for all observers according to the area under the curve (>0.95). The proposed scale is a reliable and valid instrument and may be used clinically and experimentally to assess postoperative acute pain in pigs. The well-defined cut-off point supports the evaluator´s decision to provide or not analgesia.

Ovariohysterectomy requires more post-operative analgesia than orchiectomy in dogs and cats

The requirement for post-operative analgesia after ovariohysterectomy (OH) versus orchiectomy in dogs and cats was compared. Twelve male and 12 female cats and 12 male and 12 female dogs received meloxicam, 0.1 mg/kg body weight, PO, 2 h before surgery. Eleven female cats and 3 female dogs received rescue analgesia (P = 0.002). No male of either species required rescue analgesia. The number of cats receiving rescue analgesia was greater in females than in males (P < 0.0001). One should not rely solely on preoperative short-acting opioid and preemptive use of NSAIDs to control postoperative pain following OH, in dogs or cats. Postoperative pain after OH should be assessed for at least 2 h for cats and 4 h for dogs, using species-specific validated tools, to ensure proper postoperative pain diagnosis and management. Male dogs and cats subjected to orchiectomy required less postoperative analgesia intervention than female dogs and cats submitted to OH.

Sedative and cardiopulmonary effects of dexmedetomidine infusions randomly receiving, or not, butorphanol in standing horses

Dexmedetomidine (DEX) alone, or combined with butorphanol (BUT), may be administered by constant rate infusions (CRIs) in standing horses. This blinded, randomised, crossover study in six healthy adult horses aimed to determine the sedative and cardiopulmonary effects of DEX (dexmedetomidine (3.5 µg/kg+5 µg/kg/hour CRI) and DEX/BUT (dexmedetomidine (3.5 µg/kg+3.5 µg/kg/hour CRI) and butorphanol (20 µg/kg+24 µg/kg/hour CRI)). Head height above ground (HHAG), ataxia, responses to tactile/auditory stimuli and cardiopulmonary variables were recorded before, at 5/15/30/60/90 minutes and after CRIs terminated (15/30/60 minutes). Repeated measures analysis of variance with Tukey-Kramer test were used for cardiopulmonary values (mean±SD) and HHAG reduction (per cent), and Friedman's and Dunn's for non-parametric data (P<0.05). Maximum HHAG reductions of 54 per cent (DEX) and 58 per cent (DEX/BUT) occurred at 15 minutes, with ataxia for 15 minutes in both treatments. Responses to stimuli were reduced for 30 minutes in both treatments, and auditory up to 60 minutes in DEX. Cardiopulmonary effects typical of α₂-agonists were observed, with no differences between treatments. At the doses and rates reported here, both regimens provided clinically sufficient sedation for only 30 minutes.

Validation of the UNESP-Botucatu unidimensional composite pain scale for assessing postoperative pain in cattle

Background

The recognition and measurement of pain in cattle are important in determining the necessity for and efficacy of analgesic intervention. The aim of this study was to record behaviour and determine the validity and reliability of an instrument to assess acute pain in 40 cattle subjected to orchiectomy after sedation with xylazine and local anaesthesia. The animals were filmed before and after orchiectomy to record behaviour. The pain scale was based on previous studies, on a pilot study and on analysis of the camera footage. Three blinded observers and a local observer assessed the edited films obtained during the preoperative and postoperative periods, before and after rescue analgesia and 24 hours after surgery. Re-evaluation was performed one month after the first analysis. Criterion validity (agreement) and item-total correlation using Spearman's coefficient were employed to refine the scale. Based on factor analysis, a unidimensional scale was adopted.

Results

The internal consistency of the data was excellent after refinement (Cronbach’s α coefficient = 0.866). There was a high correlation (p < 0.001) between the proposed scale and the visual analogue, simple descriptive and numerical rating scales. The construct validity and responsiveness were confirmed by the increase and decrease in pain scores after surgery and rescue analgesia, respectively (p < 0.001). Inter- and intra-observer reliability ranged from moderate to very good. The optimal cut-off point for rescue analgesia was > 4, and analysis of the area under the curve (AUC = 0.963) showed excellent discriminatory ability.

Conclusion

The UNESP-Botucatu unidimensional pain scale for assessing acute postoperative pain in cattle is a valid, reliable and responsive instrument with excellent internal consistency and discriminatory ability. The cut-off point for rescue analgesia provides an additional tool for guiding analgesic therapy.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-014-0200-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.