Pre-operative carbohydrate drink in pediatric spine fusion: randomized control trial.

Purpose: As rapid discharge protocols for pediatric spine fusion shorten stays, gastrointestinal (GI) complications are uncovered and cause delays in discharge. A pre-operative carbohydrate (CHO) drink has been shown to improve perioperative GI symptoms and functional return but has not been examined in pediatric spine patients. We aimed to determine if a preoperative CHO drink is safe in pediatric spine fusion patients, and if it improves their comfort scores and return of bowel function.

Assessing the Relationship Between Emotional States of Dogs and Their Human Handlers, Using Simultaneous Behavioral and Cardiac Measures.

Negative stress due to human handling has been reported for a number of domestic animals, including dogs. Many companion dogs display significant stress during routine care in the veterinary clinic, risking injury to staff and potentially compromising the quality of care that these dogs receive. On the other hand, positive interactions with humans can have a beneficial effect on dogs, particularly in stressful situations such as animal shelters.

Associations between Laser Light Pointer Play and Repetitive Behaviors in Companion Cats: Does Participant Recruitment Method Matter?

One common form of play between companion cat guardians and cats involves the use of laser light pointers (LLPs). Although viewed by many as an enjoyable shared interaction, experts have suggested that it may increase the risk of compulsive behaviors. Our earlier study recruited participants through social media to examine the relationship between LLPs and potential abnormal repetitive behaviors (pARBs).

Stress-Related Behaviors in Companion Dogs Exposed to Common Household Noises, and Owners' Interpretations of Their Dogs' Behaviors.

Sudden, loud noises are one of the most common triggers for fearful behaviors in dogs, and many companion dogs suffer from noise sensitivity. Existing research focuses on dramatic infrequent sounds (e.g.

Comparative Assessment of Heart Rate Variability Obtained via Ambulatory ECG and Polar Heart Rate Monitors in Healthy Cats: A Pilot Study.

Chronic exposure to stressful environments can negatively impact cats' health and welfare, affecting behavioral, autonomic, endocrine, and immune function, as with cats in shelters. Low-stress handling practices likely improve shelter cat welfare, but data supporting improved outcomes remain limited. Cardiac activity, particularly heart rate variability (HRV), is an indicator of stress and emotional state in humans and non-human animals, tracking important body functions associated with stress responsiveness, environmental adaptability, mental, and physical health.

Laser Light Pointers for Use in Companion Cat Play: Association with Guardian-Reported Abnormal Repetitive Behaviors.

Use of laser light pointers for feline play is popular with many companion cat guardians. It can be an enjoyable shared interaction and provide an opportunity for feline exercise. Laser light play alone, however, does not allow cats to complete the hunting sequence and it has been suggested that this may trigger frustration and stress, common contributors to compulsive behaviors.

Telehealth's New Horizon: Providing Smart Hospital-Level Care in the Home.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical providers have expanded telehealth into daily practice, with many medical and behavioral health care visits provided remotely over video or through phone. The telehealth market was already facilitating home health care with increasing levels of sophistication before COVID-19. Among the emerging telehealth practices, telephysical therapy; teleneurology; telemental health; chronic care management of congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes; home hospice; home mechanical ventilation; and home dialysis are some of the most prominent.

Veterinarians and impostor syndrome: an exploratory study.

Background: Impostor syndrome (IS) is the tendency to doubt one's abilities despite positive evidence to the contrary. Individuals with IS are afraid of being discovered as intellectual frauds and attribute their successes to external qualities.

Methods: An international study explored the prevalence and severity of IS in practicing veterinarians.

Sugammadex and neuromuscular reversal: special focus on neonatal and infant populations.

Purpose Of Review: Sugammadex is a novel selective muscle relaxant binding agent capable of reversing deep neuromuscular blockade from rocuronium or vecuronium. It has not been approved for use in children by the US FDA because of lack of literature regarding pediatric patients.

Recent Findings: A series of new studies has reported sugammadex administration to increasingly younger patients ranging in the newborn period.

Owners' Attitudes, Knowledge, and Care Practices: Exploring the Implications for Domestic Cat Behavior and Welfare in the Home.

Available research on the link between domestic cats' environment and welfare has primarily been conducted in animal shelters or research facilities; a better understanding of the welfare of cats living in homes is needed. This study measured the attitudes of current U.S.

Comparison between epidural and opioid analgesia for infants undergoing major abdominal surgery.

Background: Epidural analgesia is considered optimal for postoperative pain management after major abdominal surgery. The potential to decrease anesthetic and opioid exposure is particularly desirable for infants, given their vulnerability to respiratory depression and concern for anesthetic neurotoxicity. We reviewed our experience with infants undergoing major abdominal surgery to determine if epidural catheter use decreased anesthetic and opioid exposure and improved postoperative analgesia.

Case series of 331 cases of sugammadex compared to neostigmine in patients under 2 years of age.

Background: Sugammadex is a novel neuromuscular blockade reversal agent approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2015, but little literature exists for patients less than 2 years of age.

Aims: The aims of this study were to: describe a cohort of patients 2 years old and younger who received sugammadex; describe any adverse effects of sugammadex in this age group; compare time from end of surgery to out of operating room for sugammadex versus neostigmine; compare time between last dose of neuromuscular blocking drug and reversal; and use train-of-four data to assess reversal.

Methods: Chart review of the medical record and the anesthesia information system captured all patients in this age cohort who received sugammadex or neostigmine over a two-year period.

Enhancing Success of Veterinary Visits for Clients With Disabilities and an Assistance Dog or Companion Animal: A Review.

Despite increasing information on enhancing client communication and compliance/adherence in veterinary medicine, literature focusing on special cases remains limited: working with clients with special needs, challenges or disabilities, or when the patient is an assistance or emotional support animal. This paper summarizes current recommendations on how best to build successful working relationships with these clients, including action items to implement in practice. In addition, this paper reviews current literature on important considerations for care of assistance dogs as patients.

Cat owners' perceptions of psychoactive medications, supplements and pheromones for the treatment of feline behavior problems.

Objectives: This study assessed cat owners' perceptions of the use of psychoactive medications and alternative products for the treatment of behavioral problems in their cats. Factors that potentially impact these perceptions were explored and discussed.

Methods: An online, anonymous, cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess US-based cat owners' experiences with behavior problems of their cats, familiarity with psychoactive medications for treatment of behavior problems and comfort levels using the following products for treatment of feline behavior problems: fast-acting or situational prescription medications, slow-acting or long-term prescription medications, herbal/nutritional supplements, pheromone products and cannabinoid products.

Evaluating pair versus solitary housing in kennelled domestic dogs () using behaviour and hair cortisol: a pilot study.

Numerous studies conducted to assess welfare of domestic dogs housed in kennel facilities have reported that these dogs experience suboptimal living conditions. One important goal of improving welfare of kennelled dogs is to reduce their stress levels, and one recommended approach for improving welfare of kennelled dogs is group or social housing. The beneficial effects of management changes designed to achieve this goal should be measurable in individual animals.

Variability in opioid prescribing for children undergoing ambulatory surgery in the United States.

Study Objective: We attempted to describe the opioid prescribing patterns for ambulatory pediatric surgery in the United States from 2007 to 2014.

Design: Retrospective database review.

Setting: Operating room ambulatory encounters as determined by the Truven Health Marketscan Commercial Claims and Encounters database.

Osr1 functions downstream of Hedgehog pathway to regulate foregut development.

During early fetal development, paracrine Hedgehog (HH) ligands secreted from the foregut epithelium activate Gli transcription factors in the surrounding mesenchyme to coordinate formation of the respiratory system, digestive track and the cardiovascular network. Although disruptions to this process can lead to devastating congenital defects, the underlying mechanisms and downstream targets, are poorly understood. We show that the zinc finger transcription factor Osr1 is a novel HH target as Osr1 expression in the foregut mesenchyme depends on HH signaling and the effector of HH pathway Gli3 binds to a conserved genomic loci near Osr1 promoter region.

Outcomes of a Failure Mode and Effects Analysis for medication errors in pediatric anesthesia.

The Institute of Medicine has called for development of strategies to prevent medication errors, which are one important cause of preventable harm. Although the field of anesthesiology is considered a leader in patient safety, recent data suggest high medication error rates in anesthesia practice. Unfortunately, few error prevention strategies for anesthesia providers have been implemented.

Assessing the Impact of the Anesthesia Medication Template on Medication Errors During Anesthesia: A Prospective Study.

Background: Medication errors continue to be a significant source of patient harm in the operating room with few concrete countermeasures. The organization and identification of medication syringes may have an impact on the commission of medication errors in anesthesia, so a team of physicians and designers at the University of Washington created the Anesthesia Medication Template (AMT) to define a formal way of organizing the anesthesia workspace. The purpose of this study is to assess the ability of the AMT to reduce perioperative medication errors by anesthesia providers.