Comparison of Acute Hemodynamic Effects of Lidocaine and Procainamide for Postoperative Ventricular Arrhythmias in Dogs

Outcomes of 43 small breed dogs treated for splenic hemangiosarcoma

OBJECTIVE

To determine outcome and prognostic factors in small breed dogs in which hemangiosarcoma was diagnosed and whether outcomes differed between small and large breed dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma.

STUDY DESIGN

Bi-institutional retrospective study.

ANIMALS

Forty-three small breed (<20 kg) and 94 large breed client-owned dogs.

METHODS

Medical records were reviewed to identify dogs treated with splenectomy for splenic hemangiosarcoma. Data acquired included signalment, preoperative staging, bloodwork results, surgical findings, histopathologic findings, administration of chemotherapy, presence/absence of metastatic disease, and survival time (ST). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to assess prognostic factors associated with survival.

RESULTS

The overall median ST was 116 days and 97 days for small and large breed dogs, respectively. The ST for dogs treated with surgery and chemotherapy was 207 and 139 days for small and large breed dogs, respectively. The disease-free interval (DFI) was 446 and 80 days for small and large breed dogs, respectively. Dog size was associated with DFI (P = .02) but not with ST (P = .09). The presence of metastasis at diagnosis was associated with decreased ST in small (P = .03) and large (P = .0009) breed dogs. Administration of chemotherapy (P = .02) was associated with increased ST (P = .02) in small breed dogs.

CONCLUSION

The ST was not different in small and large breed dogs with splenic hemangiosarcoma treated with splenectomy and chemotherapy.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Prognosis remains poor despite aggressive therapies in small and large breed dogs.

Pharmacokinetic evaluation of a sustained-release compounded procainamide preparation after 24-h (acute) administration in normal dogs

INTRODUCTION

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of a compounded sustained-release procainamide formulation in normal dogs.

ANIMALS

Six healthy, purpose-bred mixed-breed dogs participated in the study.

METHODS

In phase I, two dogs were administered oral procainamide (30 mg/kg), and plasma was obtained to determine plasma concentration ranges and duration. In phase II, six dogs were administered procainamide (30 mg/kg by mouth every 12 hours) to determine the pharmacokinetics of sustained-release procainamide. Serum procainamide concentration was determined using an immunochemistry assay.

RESULTS

No adverse clinical effects were noted in any of the dogs studied. The average maximum serum concentration, average serum concentration, and average minimum serum concentration were 10.17, 7.13, and 3.07 μg/mL, respectively. The average time over a 12-h period during which procainamide concentration exceeded 12 μg/mL was 2.35 h, was between 4 and 12 μg/mL was 7.19 h, and was less than 4 μg/mL was 2.46 h. The average times at maximum concentration and minimum concentration were 18.67 and 12.25 h, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Administration of sustained-release procainamide twice daily achieved targeted plasma concentrations in most dogs. Evaluation of serum trough concentrations should be considered owing to interanimal variability to confirm that serum concentrations are within the reported therapeutic range for an individual patient.