A BCL was placed post-debridement in all patients. Data were analyzed for sex, age, breed, duration of clinical signs prior to DBD; number of debridements required before healing was achieved; contact find more lens retention, complications attributed to DBD, and additional surgical interventions were required

to achieve healing. Results The median time to first recheck examination was 7days (IQR 79days) with 28/40 (70%) of cases healed at this examination. The mean time to second recheck examination was 15.5 +/- 5.5days with 37/40 (92.5%) healed by this examination. The median time to final recheck examination was 19days (IQR 1835.5days) with a range of 1852days. All cases resolved by the third and final recheck examination. A second DBD/BCL was performed in 5/40 (12.5%) of cases. The BCL retention rate was 95% over all examination time points. No case required a keratectomy or other surgical intervention to achieve healing. The only complication observed was one case of suspected bacterial keratitis post-DBD/BCL. Conclusions Results suggest that DBD/BCL is safe and effective for treatment of canine SCCED.”
“OBJECTIVES: The pool of potential candidates for pleural empyema is expanding. In a previous technical

report, we tested the feasibility of the minimally invasive insertion of a vacuum-assisted closure (Mini-VAC) system without the insertion of an Selleckchem GNS-1480 open-window thoracostomy (OWT). In this study, we describe a consecutive case series of complex pleural empyemas that were managed by this Mini-VAC therapy.

METHODS: In this retrospective study, we investigated 6 patients with multimorbidity (Karnofsky index <= 50%) who were

consecutively treated with Mini-VAC for a primary, postoperative or recurrent pleural empyema BAY 11-7082 between January 2011 and February 2012.

RESULTS: Local control of the infection and control of sepsis were satisfactory in all 6 of the patients treated by Mini-VAC therapy. The suction used did not create any air leaks or bleeding from the lung or mediastinal structures. Mini-VAC therapy allowed a reduction of the empyema cavity and improved the re-expansion of the residual lung. Mini-VAC therapy resulted in a rapid eradication of the empyema. The chest wall was closed in all patients during the first hospital stay. All patients left the hospital in good health (Karnofsky index > 70%) and with a non-infected pleural cavity at a mean of 22 +/- 11 days after Mini-VAC installation. Pleural empyema was not detected in any of the 6 patients at the 3-month follow-up appointment.

CONCLUSIONS: The Mini-VAC procedure with the abdication of an OWT offers a rapid treatment for complex pleural empyema with minimal surgical effort and the opportunity for a primary closure of the empyema cavity.