The beneficial effects of dichloroacetate in acute limb ischemia.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of dichloroacetate (DCA) in acute limb ischemia.

Methods: Anterior tibialis muscle samples of DCA-treated and control animals (Sprague Dawley rats) were collected and assayed for pyruvate dehydrogenase activity, lactate, adenosine triphosphate, and creatine phosphate using spectrophotometry. A physiograph was used to measure fatigability.

The effects of dichloroacetate in a rabbit model of acute hind-limb ischemia and reperfusion.

Background: Dichloroacetate (DCA) is a drug that allows pyruvate dehydrogenase to remain active under anaerobic conditions by inhibiting the inactivating enzyme, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase. We hypothesize that the administration of DCA during acute limb ischemia may have a beneficial effect by reducing the severity of anaerobic metabolism and lessening the irreversible injury.

Study Design: We studied a rabbit model using unilateral ligation of the iliac artery or femoral artery to evaluate two degrees of ischemia.

Successful management of long-term general anesthesia in rabbits used as an animal model of human disease.

The rabbit represents a popular animal model for basic science research, but projects requiring anesthesia and endotracheal intubation represent a technical challenge because of the difficulty in accessing the animal's airway and sensitivity to common anesthetic agents. We hypothesized that transoral intubation under direct visualization with guidewire assistance would improve airway access success and reduce perioperative mortality in the rabbit. Of the 39 New Zealand White rabbits that had passive inhalation anesthesia and were intubated using wire-guided assistance under direct laryngeal visualization, 33 were intubated using a flexible wire after the rigid guide had resulted in airway injury in three of the first six rabbits.

Management of vascular complications following femoral artery catheterization with and without percutaneous arterial closure devices.

Percutaneous arterial closure devices allow earlier mobilization and discharge of patients after arterial catheterization than with manual compression for puncture site hemostasis. We reviewed our recent experience managing the complications of femoral artery catheterization with and without these devices on the vascular surgery service at a tertiary hospital. Thirty-one patients presenting over an 18-month period with complications after femoral artery catheterization with manual compression (n = 21) or percutaneous arterial closure devices (n = 10) were retrospectively reviewed.