TUFTS UNIVERSITY - Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at ...

Awardee: Stephanie Kozol V’15
Mentor: Dr. Emily McCobb
Award Type: US Army
Research Project: Anesthetic Management and Short‐Term Survival After Splenectomy
Summary: Several studies have shown that when a dog presents with a splenic mass and
hemoabdomen, the dog is likely to have a malignant and possible metastatic neoplasia and therefore a
grave prognosis for survival. Clinicians commonly presume that a case that presents with characteristics
of benign splenic lesions will have a good prognosis. Although this may be the case for a percentage of
individuals, there are other individuals that are similarly presented yet do not survive to discharge and
the overall short‐term survival rate for dogs following splenectomy has not been reported. It is the goal
of this overall study to determine the short‐term survival rate for dogs undergoing splenctomy and to
determine what peri‐operative parameters are indicative of survival. Specifically, the student conducting
this study will be evaluating peri‐operative anaesthetic parameters, primarily intra‐operative
hypotension as a potential indicator of short‐term patient survival. Four hundred and fifty records of
patients that underwent splenectomy at the Foster Animal Hospital will be analyzed to retrieve clinical
data from each individual. The short‐term survival rate for dogs in this population will be determined.
For this‐subproject parameters representing peri‐operative patient management will be analyzed to
determine whether differences were correlated with the short‐term survival. Results of this project
could help clinicians better prepare owners of dogs with splenic masses about what to expect after
surgery.
Awardee: Kendra LaFauci V’15
Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Rozanski
Award Type: NIH
Research Project: Assessment of Pleural Pressure in Veterinary Medicine Using Pleural
Manometry
Summary: The purpose of this experiment is to investigate whether or not pleural manometry can be
used to evaluate the pleural pressure of canine and feline patients in an emergency and critical care
setting. Pleural manometry has been previously performed in human medicine; however, its use in
veterinary medicine has not been documented. Assuming this procedure can be duplicated in animals,
we also hope to investigate how pressure changes relate to the volume of fluid removed as well as to
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