Acute gastric dilatation associated with gastric volvulus in the guinea pig

During an 18-month period, gastric dilatation was recognized in six guinea pigs from a colony with a monthly average of 253 animals. All of the affected guinea pigs were breeders and ranged in age from 8 to 26 months. Clinical signs were tachycardia, dyspnea, cyanosis, and marked abdominal distention. Macroscopic lesions included gastric volvulus, gastric dilatation, and splenic congestion.

Nasopharyngeal pushback in treatment of velopharyngeal insufficiency

We describe a new technique for extensive retropositioning of the soft palate for the treatment of velopharyngeal insufficiency. This technique is identified as a nasopharyngeal pushback, and has been used repeatedly in conjunction with both a Cronin nasal flap and a superiorly based pharyngeal flap when maximum retropositioning was needed. This procedure has been used for over ten years, each time obtaining an additional pushback distance equal to or greater than the distance achieved by freeling the soft palate from the posterior border of the hard palate.