• To develop and test a technique for the repair of perforations of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract in a canine model using minimally invasive approaches;
• To validate the use of GORE Inc. soft tissue patch for the treatment of upper gastrointestinal perforation;
• To develop an endoscopic delivery system for using our prosthetic biomaterial for repair of upper gastrointestinal perforations.

We hypothesize that hyperviscous fluid resuscitation of dogs with hemorrhagic shock will improve microvascular circulation, tissue perfusion and tissue oxygenation when compared to a conventional crystalloid solution.

1. Compare changes in parameters of tissue oxygenation including pH, lactate, base-excess, mesenteric venous oxygenation, and intestinal oxygen tension between the two types of fluid resuscitation.
2. Compare changes in parameters of global cardiovascular indices including arterial blood pressure, central venous pressure, systemic vascular resistance index, cardiac index, and oxygen delivery after the fluid resuscitation between the two fluids
3. Compare the amount of fluid required to achieve and maintain resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock between a hyperviscous fluid and a crystalloid of normal viscosity.

OOPS! Requesting additional animals because

"we had equipment failures: specifically we found out after the fact that the oxygen electrodes that we used (and are vital to study data) to measure tissue oxygen tension had been providing incorrect data. This problem was discovered during the post experiment calibration process. We have contacted the manufacturer and they have provided us with a method and procedures to enter the computer software to determine oxygen electrode accuracy and precision during the experiment. This has corrected the problem and has prevented any further problems. We have completed the last two available dogs on the current protocol using the new oxygen electrode intra-experiment validation procedures without incident and are confident that we can complete the study with the additional four (4) dogs."

A third type of treatment, HBOC-201, was added to the experiment and an additional eight (8) dogs were approved.

2005A0072 - Noninvasive Prediction of Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs By Doppler Echo - Cynthia Carnes
Pain Code = 2D
Dogs approved for use: Fourty-two (42)

Adult male dogs are selected and blood drawn. Electrocardiograms will record with the dog in a sling or "the dog placed in a lateral recumbent position on a customized table". The dog is killed while under anesthesia.

2004A0196 - Regulation of Intracellular Calcium In Cardiac Myocytes - Karsten Schober, PhD
Pain Code = 2D
Dogs approved for use: Seven (7)
All dogs have been used and records indicate at least 6 of the dogs were killed following the procedure.

Funding was provide by the Canine Research Fund. The fund is state operated and monies are taken from dog licenses sold in each Ohio county.

The experiment in their own words. (edit for length)

The study is designed to assess the use of Doppler echocardiography (DE) in the noninvasive assessment of left ventricular filling pressure and congestive heart failure in dogs. A simultaneous cardiac catheterization Doppler echocardiographic study in anesthetized normal dogs will be performed to identify the most suitable of numerous echocardiographic variables of left ventricular filling to estimate left ventricular filling pressure measured concurrently by left atrial catheterization.

Animal losses are not to be expected; the procedure is a recovery procedure.

At the conclusion of the study, the jugular vein will surgically be repaired, ... and the dog recovered and the arterial catheter removed. ... Subsequently, the dogs will be transferred to another study protocol or adopted if possible.

Under the Early Removal Criteria they write:

Inability to obtain arterial or venous access, non-controllable bleeding, cardiac electrical instability (frequent repetitive ventricular tachyarrthymias, complete AV block), adverse drug reaction, severe hypotension.

In the unexpected situation that a dog meets the early removal criteria, the procedure will be ceased and, if applicable, all attempts will be taken to resuscitate the dog (administration of fluids, antiarrhythmics, electrical cardiopulmonary resuscitation). If attempts fail, the dog will be euthanized. Recovered dogs not used because of early removal will be transferred to another protocol or adopted.

2004A0143 - CT 513 - Applied Circulation Technology - In Vivo Laboratory - Richard D Tallman, Jr.
Pain Code = 7D
Dogs approved for use: Sixty-six (66)

The lab is to educate students whose job duties will include the "responsibility for maintaining the movement of oxygen rich blood (extracorporeal circulation) under circumstances where the body is unable to perform these tasks ...".

The experiment in their own words. (edit for length)

Once the animal arrives in our laboratory, electrocardiogram monitoring is established and the animal is artificially ventilated ... Surgical access for venous cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass ...

Data is collected during all the procedures performed on the dog which can include

• Initiation and termination of bypass
• Membrane oxygenator skills lab (open & closed system)
• Left heart bypass
• Cardioplegia during bypass
• Centrifugal bypass procedures
• Percutaneous (closed chest) bypass procedures
• Bypass with ancillary devices
• Profound hypothermia and bypass

2004A0059 - Affect repeated anesthesia with morphine-chloralose on baroreceptor sensitivity in normal dogs - Robert Hamlin
Pain Code = 7D
Dogs approved for use: Twelve (12)

The experiment in their own words. (edit for length)

Morphine-chloralose is an excellent anesthetic for studying physiological and pharmacological responses in dogs, but it is suggested that it should only be used for acute, terminal studies. The proposed study will determine if dogs can be anesthetized repeatedly with morphine-chloralose, and whether their cardiac responses to change in posture are affected by repetitive anesthesia. Finally is repetitive anesthesia safe in terms of not producing changes in body tissues.

2003A0153 - Omega-3 Free Fatty Acids and Atrial Electrophysiologic Remodeling - Cynthia Carnes
Pain Code = 7D
Dogs approved for use: Twenty-four (24) were originally approved however, four (4) additional dogs were requested due to "unexpected atrial fibrillation" and later six (6) dogs were approved to use in additional procedures. Total now equals thirty-four (34) dogs in the experiments.

The goal of the study "is to test whether omega-3 free fatty acids reduce the likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation." The duration of the experiment is approx. 5 hours. The dogs are under anesthesia during the experiment and killed at it's conclusion.

OOPS! In their own words.

We had unexpected atrial fibrillation during four of the initial experiments. We initially thought this was due to the age of dogs. After modifying the age, the problem persisted. Therefore we are requesting a change in anesthetic regimen and an increase in the number of animals to replace those animals which were unexpectedly withdrawn from the study.

After review of the anesthesia literature, we have decided to modify the regimen, in an attempt to limit this problem. We will use an increased dose of isoflorane (up to 5%) for induction by mask, followed by isoflorane 1-2% for maintenance.

And more animals are requested because in their own words.

Reviewers of our manuscript describing our results have requested additional experiments. We have been asked to evaluate the direct electrophysiologic effects of the Omega-3 free fatty infusion in the absence of atrial pacing.

We had a question from reviewers about the pharmacokinetics of the omega-3 free fatty acid. Therefore, we will obtain these samples so that such analyses can be done.

2001A0046 - Continuing Education: Total Hip Replacement - Jonathan Dyce
Pain Code = 7D
Dogs approved for use: Thirty (30)

This is a graduate veterinarian course.