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Biomedical subjects

Cheryl S Hedlund

Publications and source records attributed to Cheryl S Hedlund.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Large trunk wounds.

Management of large trunk wounds begins with good wound management and bandaging. When a healthy wound bed exists and adequate tissue is present, the wound is closed. Fortunately, there is an abundance of loose trunk skin in most animals, and wound closure can be accomplished by simple reconstructive techniques, such as undermining and tension or "walking sutures." Nevertheless, some wounds and areas of the torso may require more advanced tension-relieving techniques, skin stretching, and tissue implants or flaps to achieve tension-free closure and successful wound healing. Use of these techniques allows wound closure and good cosmetic results for even those wounds that initially may seem foreboding.

Animals↗

Gastric and intestinal surgery.

Gastric surgery is commonly performed to remove foreign bodies and correct gastric dilatation-volvulus and is less commonly performed to treat gastric ulceration or erosion, neoplasia, and benign gastric outflow obstruction. Intestinal surgery, although commonly performed by veterinarians, should never be considered routine. The most common procedures of the small intestinal tract performed in dogs and cats include enterotomy and resection/anastomosis. Surgery of the large intestine is indicated for lesions causing obstruction, perforations, colonic inertia, or chronic inflammation.

Animals↗

Surgical education: attitudes toward animal use in teaching surgery at Louisiana State University.

Concerns over the use of animals in teaching have lead to a reduction in the number of live animal laboratories. A survey of 275 students and faculty was conducted to characterize their attitude toward the use of animals in teaching surgery. Respondents favored live animal use. They believed that model laboratories were helpful in learning aseptic technique and suturing skills but less helpful in learning tissue handling, dissection, hemostasis, or anesthesia.

Animal Use Alternatives↗

In vitro evaluation of the 18 and 36 kg Securos Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair System.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the mechanical properties of the 18 and 36 kg Securos Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair System. STUDY DESIGN: In vitro mechanical evaluation. SAMPLE POPULATION: Loop constructs of 18, 27, and 36 kilogram test (kgt) nylon leader line (NLL) secured with Securos crimp-clamps (SCC, n=40 per NLL test weight) or by a clamped square knot (CSK; n=40/NLL test weight). METHODS: The 36 kg SCC were used for the 27 and 36 kgt NLL, and 18 kg SCC were used for the 18 kgt NLL. Loop constructs were mounted on a material testing machine, and distracted at 500 mm/min for static tests, and for cyclic tests at 500 mm/min to a distraction limit of 6 mm (18 kgt) or 7.5 mm (27 and 36 kgt) for 49 cycles, until failure. Constructs were tested at 20 degrees C except for 1 group of 27 kgt CSK loops tested at 40 degrees C. Load at failure, elongation, and stiffness was recorded and compared between groups under static or cyclic testing conditions. RESULTS: All 27 and 36 kgt loops failed by disruption of NLL contained within the knot or crimp-clamp, whereas 18 kgt SCC loops failed by the NLL pulling through the crimp-clamp. The 18 kg SCC loops had considerable variability in ultimate load and elongation (coefficient of variation 29.6% and 18.3%, respectively). There was no significant difference in elongation between 27.3 kgt CSK loops tested at 20 degrees C and 40 degrees C. Generally, in both static and cyclic testing, SCC constructs formed with 27.3 or 36.4 kgt NLL performed as well or better than CSK constructs, resulting in loops that were strong, underwent minimal elongation, and had high stiffness. CONCLUSION: The results support use of the 36 kg Securos system but not the 18 kg Securos system (with the clamp and crimping device used). The significantly lower load required for failure, slippage through the clamp, and substantial variability suggested that the crimp tube diameter or the crimping device tested may be inappropriate for use with 18 kgt NLL. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Surgeons should be aware that crimp-clamp design is important in controlling suture slippage or breakage within the clamp, and that novel systems should undergo mechanical testing with the size suture material they are intended to secure before clinical use.

Animals↗

Postoperative integrity of veterinary surgical gloves.

A multicenter, prospective study was performed to document the incidence of defective gloves postoperatively in veterinary surgery and to correlate defects with a variety of influencing factors. Gloves were collected after surgical procedures performed by the small animal clinical services at two veterinary teaching hospitals and one institution's student surgery laboratories. Gloves were evaluated for defects using electrical resistance testing. The overall incidence of glove defects was 23.3%. Significantly more defects occurred in gloves used for nonsoft-tissue procedures and in gloves worn on the nondominant hand. Eighty-four percent of all defects occurred in procedures lasting >60 minutes. No differences were detected in the brands of gloves used nor among surgeons of different experience levels. The individuals performing the surgery were not able to accurately predict the presence of a defect in their gloves. Surgeons should remain alert for possible glove defects and consider measures such as changing gloves every 60 minutes or double-gloving to minimize potential complications.

Animals↗