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Biomedical subjects

U Braun

Publications and source records attributed to U Braun.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Perioperative thermal insulation: minimal clinically important differences?

BACKGROUND: Reduction of heat losses from the skin by thermal insulation is used to avoid perioperative hypothermia. However, there is little information about the physical properties of various insulating materials used in the operating room. METHODS: The following insulation materials were tested using a validated manikin: cotton surgical drape tested in two and four layers; Allegiance drape; 3M Steri-Drape; metallized plastic sheet; Thermadrape Barkey thermcare 1 tested in one and two layers; hospital duvet tested in one and two layers. Heat loss from the surface of the manikin can be described as: Q(*);= h.DeltaT.A where Q(*); is heat flux, h is the heat exchange coefficient, DeltaT is the temperature gradient between the environment and surface and A is the area covered. The heat flux per unit area (Q(*); A(-1)) and surface temperature were measured with nine calibrated heat-flux transducers. The environmental temperature was measured using a thermoanemometer. DeltaT was varied and h was determined by linear regression analysis as the slope of DeltaT vs Qdot; A(-1). The reciprocal of h defines the insulation. RESULTS: The insulation value of air was 0.61 Clo. The insulation values of the materials varied between 0.17 Clo (two layers of cotton surgical drapes) to 2.79 Clo (two layers of hospital duvet). CONCLUSIONS: There are relevant differences between various insulating materials. The best commercially available material designed for use in the operating room (Barkey thermcare 1) can reduce heat loss from the covered area by 45% when used in two layers. Given the range of insulating materials available for outdoor activities, significant improvement in insulation of patients in the operating room is both possible and desirable.

Air↗
PubMed2004

[Anaplasmosis in a Swiss dairy farm: an epidemiological outbreak investigation].

In summer of 2002, a case of severe clinical bovine anaplasmosis caused great losses in a dairy farm of an animal trader in Grisons. This article outlines the general approach of an outbreak investigation considering the case of anaplasmosis as an example. The goals of such investigations are to identify and eliminate the source of a disease outbreak in order to avoid additional cases. In addition, recommendations should be developed for preventing or limiting the magnitude of similar outbreaks in the future. In the outbreak presented, the causative agents were probably brought into the dairy farm by animal trade. Due to the large herd size, a missing quarantine for new animals and the coinfection with several pathogens, this case led to a high number of fatalities. The investigations of this outbreak demonstrated the importance of an universal and consistent identification of individual animals for the reconstruction of their movements. The veterinary practitioner should be reminded to act cautiously when facing strange clinical cases and to also consider "exotic diseases" as a possible cause.

Anaplasmosis↗
PubMed2004

[Warming efficacy and blood damaging of blood and infusion warmers].

QUESTION: Inadequately warmed blood or infusions contribute to the development of perioperative hypothermia. Therefore we analysed the efficiency of several infusion warmers. METHOD: Tested infusion warmers: Model Autoline (Barkey) 500OR/241(Arizant), BW 385L(Biotest), H250/D50 und D60 (Level-1), H500/D300 (Level-1), Warmflo FW537-I/HEC40 (Tyco). Different solutions (saline, colloid solution and packed red blood cells PRBC) were tested varying the infusion flow, temperature of the solution and infusion pressure. Effective warming was defined as an infusion temperature > or = 33 degrees C. Haemolysis was measured by the increase of free plasma haemoglobin. RESULTS: The infusion warmers were effective within the following flow ranges: Low flow rate (< 250 ml/h): Autoline, 500OR/241 and H250/D60. Medium flow rate (250-2500 ml/h): Autoline, 500OR/241, BW385L (> 480 ml/h), H250/D 60 und D50 (> or = 1300 ml/h), FW537-I/HEC40 (> 950 ml/h. High flow rate (2500-10,000 ml/h): BW385L (up to 5000 ml/h), H250/D50, H250/D60, H500/D300 and FW537-I/HEC 40(R). Highest flow rates (> 10,000 ml/h): H250/D60, H500/D300 and FW537-I HEC40. Colloidal solutions were warmed nearly as good as saline, cooled PRBC had a smaller range of effective warming. There was no relevant haemolysis in any of the tested systems (plasma free haemoglobin raise < 24 mg/dl in all systems). CONCLUSION: The warming capacity of the system and the length of the uninsulated infusion system determine the efficiency of an infusion warmer. The range of effective warming of an infusion warmer should be known for proper application.

Blood Substitutes↗
PubMed2004

[Heat transfer by conductive warming with circulating-water mattresses].

AIM OF THE STUDY: To determine the heat transfer by circulating-water mattresses placed under the back and over both legs of human volunteers. METHODS: With approval by the local ethics committee and informed consent eight minimally clothed volunteers were included in the study. Six calibrated heat flux transducers were placed on the back and additionally eight sensors were placed on both legs of each volunteer. The volunteers reclined on a circulating-water mattress (ComfortPad Plus(R), Cincinnati Sub-Zero Products Inc., Cincinnati, OH, USA) coated with gel (Granulab International, Armersfoort, Niederlande). Another circulating-water mattress (Plastipad trade mark, Cincinnati Sub-Zero Products Inc.) was placed over both legs. Both devices were heated to 41 degrees C by a hypo-hyperthermia system (Hico-Variotherm 530, Hirtz and Co. Hospitalwerk, Cologne, Germany). Heat flux data were sampled during steady-state conditions. After determination of the contact area between the mattresses and the skin, heat transfer was calculated by multiplication of the heat flux per area by the contact area. RESULTS: Heat flux per area to the back was 45.6 +/- 4.5 W m (- 2), the contact area was 0.39 +/- 0.03 m (2). This resulted in a heat transfer of 18.0 +/- 2.4 W. Heat flux per area to the legs was 24.7 +/- 4.3 W m (- 2), the contact area was 0.12 +/- 0.01 m (2). This resulted in a heat transfer of 2.9 +/- 0.6 W. CONCLUSION: The heat transfer of the circulating-water mattress to the back was much higher than the heat transfer to the legs. Nevertheless, model calculations show that conductive warming of the legs is more important for the prevention of perioperative hypothermia than conductive warming of the back, because it has a higher impact on the heat balance.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

A comparison of biopsy and post-mortem findings in the lungs of healthy cows.

Lung biopsy in cattle for the diagnosis of lung diseases is rarely used or described. The clinical effects and the gross findings in lung and pleura after ultrasonic-guided percutaneous lung biopsy in the upright animal of healthy cattle were reported previously (Braun et al., 1999). This report describes the yield of attained lung tissue and the local tissue reaction in 60 healthy adult cows slaughtered 24 h (50 animals) and 10 days (10 animals) after invasion. The yield of lung tissue in the biopsies was high (85.5%) in 90 histologically examined biopsy specimens and judged 'good to excellent'. The local tissue reaction and the extent of haemorrhage in the lung parenchyma, both 24 h and 10 days after the biopsy, were minimal. In the latter group, the scar tissue had approximately the same dimensions as the tissue cylinders punched 10 days before. There were no local adhesions between the pleural surfaces. Previously published data concerning clinical reactions and complications, macroscopically examined local tissue bleeding and the histologically evaluated minimal local inflammatory reaction, following lung biopsy of cattle, indicate that this procedure is safe and satisfactory for sampling of accurate lung material. The results of this study concur and indicate that local complications in the animal were minimal to absent.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[Case report: tenesmus in a cow with a liver abscess and nephritis].

A two-year-old Swiss Braunvieh cow was referred to our clinic because of tenesmus and weight loss. Clinical examination revealed a moderately abnormal general behaviour and condition, thin body condition and a rectal temperature of 40.1 degrees C. Tenesmus was evident, and rumen and intestinal motility were markedly reduced. All tests for a reticular foreign body were positive. On rectal examination, a round, smooth, firm, non-painful mass with a diameter of approximately 15 cm was palpated far cranially on the right side. Abnormal haematological and biochemical findings included marked anaemia, neutrophilic leucocytosis, markedly elevated concentration of fibrinogen and mildly elevated gamma-glutamyl-transferase activity. The clotting time of the glutaraldehyde test was one minute. Ultrasonographic examination revealed abscesses involving the liver and extending caudally into the right flank region. The liver parenchyma had diffuse changes. Because of a grave prognosis, the cow was euthanized. Postmortem findings substantiated ultrasonographic results; there were abscesses, caused by Fasciola hepatica infestation, originating in the liver and extending into the right flank. As well, there was severe, bilateral, multifocal, suppurative nephritis due to thromboembolism. Based on all the findings, a diagnosis of liver abscess caused by fascioliasis and bilateral suppurative nephritis was made.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Clinical, haematological, immunohistochemical and pathological findings in 10 cattle with cutaneous lymphoma.

This paper describes the clinical, haematological, immunohistochemical and pathological findings in 10 female cattle with cutaneous lymphoma. The most striking clinical finding was multifocal intracutaneous nodules, which were firm, hairless and sometimes covered with haemorrhagic crusts. All the animals had multiple lymphadenopathy. Eight of the animals had leucocytosis and two also had lymphocytosis. In seven animals, a definitive diagnosis of lymphosarcoma was made on the basis of biopsies of intracutaneous nodules or fine needle aspirates of superficial lymph nodes. In some of the cattle the kidneys, heart, spleen and lungs were affected.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Effects of atropine, scopolamine and xylazine on the placement of an orally administered magnet in cows.

This study was carried out to determine whether the administration of atropine, scopolamine or xylazine to cows before the administration of a magnet orally would help to position it in the reticulum. The transit time of the magnet through the oesophagus was also measured. Sixty Swiss Braunvieh cows were examined by radiography and ultrasonography to locate the reticulum. They were then divided into six groups of 10. Before the administration of the magnet, a control group received 4 ml saline solution subcutaneously, one group received 0.10 mg/kg of atropine subcutaneously, a second received 0.05 mg/kg of atropine intravenously, a third received 0.15 mg/kg of scopolamine intravenously, a fourth group received 0.02 mg/kg of xylazine intravenously, and the cows in the fifth group were positioned so that their forelimbs were 30 cm lower than their hindlimbs during the administration of the magnet. The passage of the magnet through the oesophagus was timed with a stopwatch and monitored with a compass. In the control group the magnet passed through in less than 60 seconds, but in four of the cows receiving either atropine or xylazine intravenously, or having their forelimbs positioned lower than their hindlimbs, it took longer than 60 seconds. In the cows receiving atropine subcutaneously or scopolamine intravenously, it took the same time as in the control group. All the cows were radiographed one-and-a-half hours after the administration of the magnet to determine its location. In seven of the 10 cows in the control group, the magnet was located in the reticulum, but in the other three it was in the cranial dorsal blind sac of the rumen. In the other five groups the magnet was located in the reticulum of between four and seven of the 10 cows, but in the cranial dorsal sac of the rumen, the rumen or in other sites in the other cows.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2003

Ultrasonography in gastrointestinal disease in cattle.

Ultrasonography is an ideal diagnostic tool for investigating gastrointestinal disorders in cattle. It is performed on standing non-sedated cattle using a 3.5 MHz linear transducer. In animals with traumatic reticuloperitonitis, inflammatory fibrinous changes, and abscesses can be imaged; however, magnets and foreign bodies are difficult to visualize because of the gas content of the reticulum. Ultrasonography can be used to assess the size, position and contents of the abomasum. Percutaneous ultrasound-guided abomasocentesis can be performed to evaluate the nature and chemical composition of its contents. In left displacement of the abomasum, the abomasum is seen between the left abdominal wall and the rumen. It contains fluid ingesta ventrally and a gas cap of varying size dorsally. Occasionally, the abomasal folds are seen in the ingesta. In cattle with right displacement of the abomasum, the liver is displaced medially from the right abdominal wall by the abomasum, which has an ultrasonographic appearance similar to that described for left displacement. Motility and diameter of the intestine are the most important criteria for ultrasonographic assessment of ileus. However, the cause of the ileus is rarely determined using ultrasonography. In cases with ileus of the small intestine, there is at least one region of dilatation of the intestine and motility is reduced or absent. In cattle with caecal dilatation, the caecum can always be imaged from the right lateral abdominal wall. The wall of the caecum closest to the transducer appears as a thick, echogenic, semi-circular line.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

[The use of avermectins in two goats with demodicosis].

This case report describes the treatment of demodicosis (Demodex caprae) in 2 goats. The entire body surface of both goats was scattered with lens-large nodes from which pasty secretion emptied itself during palpation. One goat was administered 0.67 mg/kg Ivermectin orally once weekly for 12 weeks, the other goat was treated with 0.5 mg/kg Eprinomectin pour-on. The treatment led to an entire healing without any scar formation or depigmentations of the skin.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2003

[Clinical findings in four cattle with abscesses in the cervical vertebrae].

The purpose of this paper was to describe the clinical findings in four cattle with abscesses in the cervical vertebrae. In all of the animals there was generalized ataxia and normal behaviour, mentation and cranial nerve function. All animals had marked difficulty rising and had generalized ataxia. The most important haematological and biochemical findings were a mildly increased concentration of plasma protein in all animals and a markedly increased fibrinogen concentration in two animals. A sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected from three animals. The protein content was mildly increased in the CSF samples of two animals. Based on the clinical findings, a tentative diagnosis of central nervous system disease with localisation in the neck region was made in all of the animals. Due to a poor prognosis, all of the animals were slaughtered. Postmortem examination revealed abscesses in the region of C3 to C6, which had resulted in extramedullary compression of the spinal cord. The abscesses varied in diameter from 2 to 8 cm.

Animals↗