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Biomedical subjects

R E Clutton

Publications and source records attributed to R E Clutton.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Repair of avulsed cervical nerve roots. An experimental study in sheep.

An experimental model was established to investigate the possibility of repairing cervical nerve roots avulsed from the spinal cord, as occurs in traction injuries of the brachial plexus. In five sheep the C6 root was avulsed and the ventral root was reattached using freeze-thawed muscle as a short graft (0.5 cm). Recovery was assessed after one year by electrophysiology and histology. Stimulation of the root produced muscle contractions in four out of five sheep. Action potentials were recorded distal to the grafts in all five sheep. Histological examination showed regenerated fibres in the ventral roots in all cases. These fibres could be traced distally to the brachial plexus. Our study confirms that motor fibres can regenerate out of the spinal cord into the ventral roots and reinnervate muscles, and suggests that reimplantation of avulsed roots is a surgical option in selected cases of traction injury of the brachial plexus.

Action Potentials↗

Clinical evaluation of romifidine/ketamine/halothane anaesthesia in horses.

Romifidine, 100 micrograms/kg administered by intravenous injection, was evaluated as a premedicant to ketamine/halothane anaesthesia in 60 horses. Sedation developed within one to two minutes. In three cases mild staggering occurred within two minutes. Anaesthesia was induced after five minutes by the intravenous administration of ketamine (2 to 2.2 mg/kg). A mean time of 79 seconds elapsed before lateral recumbency was adopted. Fifty-four of the horses sank smoothly to the floor, with occasional steps sideways. Jaw tone, limb rigidity and mild muscle tremors often persisted for short periods after induction. Complete relaxation was achieved on average two minutes after the administration of ketamine. The transition to oxygen/halothane anaesthesia was excellent or good in 53 cases. The mean duration of anaesthesia was 79 minutes. Forty-seven of the horses were able to stand after one or two attempts with little or no ataxia. After halothane administration ceased, the mean time to sternal recumbency was 25 minutes and the mean time to standing was 33 minutes. Most horses appeared to be sedated upon standing, but they were able to walk soon after regaining their feet. The characteristics of the induction of anaesthesia were similar to those seen when detomidine/ketamine or xylazine/ketamine are used. The maintenance of anaesthesia with halothane was similar to that following other induction protocols, and the recovery from anaesthesia was smooth and free from excitement.

Anesthesia↗

Effect of left hepatic vein ligation on hepatic circulation, function, and microanatomy in dogs.

Eighteen healthy dogs were allotted to 3 groups (n = 6 dogs each). All dogs were evaluated at the beginning of the study by complete physical examination; total and differential WBC counts; serum biochemical analysis (alanine transaminase and alkaline phosphatase activities and bilirubin and albumin concentrations); sulfobromophthalein excretion, ammonia tolerance, and glucagon response testing; portal and intraparenchymal pressure determinations; operative mesenteric portography; and histologic assessment of hepatic biopsy specimens. The left hepatic vein was ligated completely in dogs of groups 1 and 2. Group-3 (control) dogs had a ligature placed loosely around the left hepatic vein. Dogs of groups 1 and 3 were reevaluated 24 hours after surgery by use of the aforementioned hematologic and biochemical tests. Group-1 dogs were reevaluated by use of portal and intraparenchymal pressure determinations, jejunal vein portography, and complete necropsy at 48 hours after surgery. At 4 weeks after surgery, dogs of groups 2 and 3 were reevaluated by use of all aforementioned tests. Results indicated transient hepatic congestion, which resolved by the fourth postoperative week. Longstanding effect on hepatic structure, circulation, or function was not found. We concluded that left hepatic vein ligation in clinically normal dogs does not cause severe or permanent liver damage.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Effect of halothane, isoflurane, and pentobarbital anesthesia on myocardial irritability in chickens.

The relative myocardial irritant properties of halothane, isoflurane, and pentobarbital were evaluated in chickens. Sixteen adult male broiler chickens were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: group-1 chickens were anesthetized with pentobarbital (30 mg/kg, IV), group-2 chickens were anesthetized with halothane (end tidal halothane 1.2%), and group-3 chickens were anesthetized with isoflurane (end tidal isoflurane 2.1%). Birds in any 2 of the 3 treatment groups were tested on any 1 day. Local anesthesia was induced, and blood pressure, heart rate, ECG, and blood gas variables were measured before general anesthesia was induced. Positive-pressure ventilation with an inspired O2 fraction greater than 0.95 was adjusted to result in an end tidal CO2 concentration that reflected a Paco2 similar to that obtained prior to anesthesia and ventilation. All measurements were repeated. The threshold for ventricular fibrillation in response to electrical stimulation of the heart was then determined for all birds. Effects of anesthesia on hemodynamic and blood gas variables were similar in all 3 groups. Compared with halothane or pentobarbital, isoflurane anesthesia resulted in a significantly (P less than 0.05) lower threshold for electrical fibrillation of the heart.

Anesthesia, General↗

Inefficacy of oral ketamine for chemical restraint in turkeys.

Ketamine hydrochloride was given orally at a dose of 200 mg/kg to six domestic turkeys (Meleagris gallapovo). There was no apparent anesthetic effect. The same birds received 500 mg/kg by the same route 1 wk later. All birds became ataxic within 10 min; although some sedation was apparent, they made coordinated escapes when challenged.

Administration, Oral↗

Alpha-chloralose as a capture and restraint agent of birds: therapeutic index determination in the chicken.

The median effective dose for capture (ED50) and the median lethal dose (LD50) of alpha-chloralose given orally to domestic chickens (Gallus domesticus) were determined by probit analysis to be 45 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg, respectively. The therapeutic index (TI = LD50/ED50) was 6.7. This indicates that alpha-chloralose is only a marginally safe capture agent in domestic species and particularly in field applications involving other wild avian species in which the amount of the drug ingested by an individual bird is not controlled.

Administration, Oral↗

Attempted suicide with acepromazine maleate: a case report.

1.25 g acepromazine maleate was consumed by a young woman in an unsuccessful suicide attempt. The drug is used extensively as an anesthetic premedication in veterinary practice. The woman had worked as a lay veterinary assistant. The clinical signs of toxicity were in part consistent with phenothiazine over-dosage in the human and were inconsistent with signs usually observed in animals.

Acepromazine↗

A comparison of the neuromuscular and cardiovascular effects of vecuronium, atracurium and mivacurium in sheep.

Neuromuscular and cardiovascular effects of vecuronium, atracurium and mivacurium were compared in 45 sheep. The onset and duration of neuromuscular block produced with loading doses of vecuronium (25 microg kg(-1)), atracurium (500 microg kg(-1)) and mivacurium (200 microg kg(-1)) and maintained with incremental doses (7, 170 and 70 microg kg(-1), respectively) were monitored using train-of-four stimulation of the n. facialis-m. levator nasolabialis unit. The electrocardiogram, heart rate and arterial blood pressure were recorded during onset of neuromuscular blockade. Mean loading dose onset times for atracurium (98 seconds) and mivacurium (86 seconds) were significantly shorter than vecuronium (203 seconds). Vecuronium produced significantly longer block (40 minutes) than atracurium (28 minutes) and mivacurium (15 minutes). There was no evidence of drug cumulation with atracurium or mivacurium. Cardiac dysrrhythmias were not observed in any group. Atracurium and mivacurium produced intermediate- and short-duration neuromuscular blockade, respectively. Vecuronium produced a prolonged effect after a slow onset.

Animals↗

A comparison of edrophonium and neostigmine for the reversal of mivacurium-induced neuromuscular blockade in sheep.

The rate of reversal of neuromuscular block was compared in 36 sheep receiving either edrophonium (500 microg kg(-1)) and atropine (80 microg kg(-1)), neostigmine (50 microg kg(-1)) and atropine (80 microg kg(-1)) or saline (10 ml), using the train of four count (TO4C) recorded at n. facialis-m. levator nasolabialis. Neuromuscular block was produced with mivacurium (200 microg kg(-1)) followed later by a single incremental dose of 70 microg kg(-1). Antagonists or saline were given when spontaneous recovery from the incremental dose (TO4C = 1) had begun. The TO4C increased from 1 to 4 in all animals, in all treatment groups within 10 minutes of reversal. The TO4C was 4 in all animals five minutes after edrophonium, and seven minutes after neostigmine; differences were not statistically significant. The TO4C was significantly higher with edrophonium two and three minutes after antagonism compared with saline. The data show that spontaneous recovery from mivacurium is rapid in sheep, although reversal is accelerated by anticholinesterase drugs.

Animals↗

Autonomic and cardiovascular effects of neuromuscular blockade antagonism in the dog.

Autonomic and cardiovascular changes were studied when neuromuscular blockade was antagonized in 96 dogs with one of eight anticholinesterase-antimuscarinic drug combinations. Neostigmine (50 or 100 micrograms/kg) was administered before or after atropine (40 micrograms/kg) or glycopyrrolate (10 micrograms/kg). The high dose of neostigmine (100 micrograms/kg) caused bradyarrhythmias, salivation, and signs of bronchosecretion when used with either antimuscarinic agent and irrespective of the administration sequence. The heart rate increased, but not significantly, when atropine was injected before either dose of neostigmine. This did not occur when this administration sequence was reversed. Arrhythmias and cardiovascular and autonomic changes did not occur when glycopyrrolate was injected before or after neostigmine at 50 micrograms/kg.

Animals↗