Cerebral abscess in dog - Case report

http://www.rbmv.com.br/pdf_artigos/18-05-2015_16-42RBMV061.pdf

Juliana de Castro Cosme , Maria Aparecida da Silva , Romeri Pedro dos Santos , Paulo Sérgio Cruz de Andrade Júnior and Louisiane de Carvalho Nunes

 Rev. Bras. Med. Vet., 37(1):15-19, jan/mar 2015

 ABSTRACT: Cerebral abscess is an affection of the nervous system with rare manifestation in dogs, caused by proliferation of pyogenic bacteria. The aim of this work was to describe the clinical and pathological findings in a case of cerebral abscess in dog, as well as to discuss the adopted treatment procedures. A 48-day old, male labrador dog was examined at the veterinary hospital of the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), exhibiting a lesion caused by trauma on the frontal left region of the skull. The animal presented signs of ataxia and apathy, and received antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatment. The animal died 30 days after consultation. Among other macroscopic findings, necroscopic examination revealed cutaneous scabby lesion on the frontal left region of the skull, cerebellar herniation, and increase of the left hemiencephalon. Microscopical analyses showed neutrophilic leptomeningitis of brain, cerebellum and cord, neuropil vacuolation, and neutrophilic infiltrate in the perivascular Virchow-Robin spaces of the brain. Staphylococcus sp. was evidenced by microbiological isolation. The non-specificity of the clinical signs in cases of cerebral abscess may hinder the establishment of an early diagnosis, thus reducing the treatment and survival chances of the animal

Intraoperative ultrasonography of the vertebral canal in dogs

M.A. Bonelli , E.A. Tudury , C.R.O. Santos , B.M. Araújo , C.C. Diogo , A.C. Silva , F.S. Costa

Arq. Bras. Med. Vet. Zootec. vol.67 no.3 Belo Horizonte May/June 2015

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1678-4162-7494 

http://www.scielo.br/pdf/abmvz/v67n3/0102-0935-abmvz-67-03-00655.pdf

ABSTRACT

Intraoperative ultrasound (IOS) can provide details on various conditions of the spinal cord and vertebral canal. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of using IOS in dogs undergoing spinal surgery and to describe the main findings. The vertebral canal of 21 dogs was examined with intraoperative ultrasonography: 13 underwent spinal surgery for removal of herniated intervertebral disc material, three for stabilization of vertebral fracture/luxation, two for removal of vertebral neoplasia, and three for cauda equina decompression. Particular attention was given to signs of cord compression. Intraoperative ultrasonography was feasible and useful in dogs undergoing surgery for spinal cord or cauda equina decompression and fracture stabilization. It was not paramount for locating the compression when this had been done via computed tomography (CT), but it showed alterations in spinal cord parenchyma not observed on CT and also confirmed adequate decompression of the spinal cord. The main advantages of intraoperative ultrasonography were estimation of vascularization and extent of spinal cord lesion. Most importantly, it allowed real time evaluation of the spinal cord and vertebral canal, which permits the modification of the surgical procedure.
Key words: neurology; ultrasound; spinal cord

RESUMO

A ultrassonografia intraoperatória pode fornecer detalhes sobre diversas condições da medula espinal e canal vertebral. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a viabilidade da utilização da ultrassonografia intraoperatória em cães submetidos à cirurgia espinomedular e descrever os principais achados. O canal vertebral de 21 cães foi examinado com ultrassonografia intraoperatória - 13 foram submetidos à cirurgia para remoção de material de disco herniado, três para estabilização de fratura/luxação vertebral, dois para remoção de neoplasia vertebral e três para descompressão de cauda equina. Atenção especial foi dada a sinais de compressão medular. A ultrassonografia intraoperatória foi viável e útil em cães submetidos a cirurgia para descompressão da medula espinal ou cauda equina e estabilização de fratura. Apesar de não ser indispensável para localização da compressão quando isso havia sido feito através de tomografia computadorizada (TC), demonstrou alterações no parênquima que não haviam sido observadas pela TC e confirmou a adequada descompressão da medula espinhal. As principais vantagens da ultrassonografia intraoperatória foram: estimar a vascularização e a extensão da lesão medular. Principalmente, permitiu uma avaliação em tempo real da medula espinal e do canal vertebral, o que permite modificação do procedimento cirúrgico.
Palavras-Chave: neurologia; ultrassonografia; medula espinal