When to Consider Outpatient CT for Non-Critical Cases

Speed and accuracy.

These are the fundamental ideas behind the ever-improving technology in veterinary medicine.

But improving on these concepts is really just a means to an end, because what we’re really after at the end of the day is to do our jobs better in order to provide the best care to our patients. With CT, we can now map a portosystemic shunt (PSS) noninvasively. We can get to the bottom of that chronic nasal discharge in a matter of seconds and better than radiographs ever did. And we can even determine whether or not an adrenal tumor has invaded the surrounding vessels before surgery.

And did you know that VICSD can now do all of this without administering anesthesia?

We put together this quick-reference guide for you to keep in your hospital to help determine when to send out a non-critical case for CT imaging. And if you have any questions about a particular patient, please give our radiologists a call.

CT Quick-Reference Guide

Other Posts

Video: Feline CT with Virtual Rhinoscopy
Q&A: VICSD Off-Site Imaging
3-D CT & MRI Videos
Feline Thyroid Scan Image Comparisons
Real-Time Ultrasound is now available to San Diego’s veterinary community

 
View the Apr – Jun 2012 VICSD Quarterly e-Newsletter

Nerd alert! We’re true technology geeks here, which is why when we did a CT that revealed the same results as a live rhinoscopy on a cat’s nasal passage, we had to put together a video to post on YouTube and our website. And Facebook. And our e-newsletter.

Do you know when you can refer out for CT for non-critical cases?
Click here to download our free CT Quick-Reference Guide

Free Download: VICSD Guide to Advanced Imaging

When it comes to imaging the different regions of the body, MRI and CT most certainly each have their place. But do you know when one is preferred over the other?

We put together this comprehensive VICSD Guide to Advanced Imaging for you to download and keep in your hospital to reference when sending cases for outpatient imaging. If you have any questions about a particular case, our radiologists are always more than happy to help, so give our office a call at (858) 634-5430.

Download the VICSD Guide to Advanced Imaging
 

Food for thought on the new iodine-restricted diet for feline hyperthyroidism
Seth Wallack DVM, DACVR

Palatability and multi-cat households are obstacles.  These concerns have been raised to us by DVMs. First is palatability. Food is essential to minimize weight loss in a metabolically overactive patient, and if the cats don’t like the food, they could become cachexic quickly. Second is trying y/d in a multi-cat household can be tough. Again, this is a restriction therapy, so it is important that y/d not be left out for free feeding.

The bottom line is it that doesn’t hurt to try an iodine-restricted diet as long as your clients understand the limitations and what to look out for.

VICSD’s Real-Time Ultrasound service is now available to
San Diego’s veterinary community

The wait is over. Real-Time Ultrasound is here!

Created and patented by VICSD CEO, Dr. Seth Wallack, Real-Time Ultrasound offers the convenience of a Mobile Ultrasound appointment but at a more cost-effective rate, so your patients can benefit from the expertise of a specialist without the travel fees added to the cost.

It works by a professional sonographer coming to  your hospital to perform the study and streaming the crystal-clear images over the Internet in real-time to a viewing consultant. The consultant and sonographer then work together to evaluate the case, determine if any tissue sampling is needed (which can be performed by the sonographer), and immediately generate a report.

Real-Time Ultrasound is also a great option for recheck ultrasounds and critical care cases needing an immediate evaluation of images and collaboration with a board-certified specialist. One bonus for those needing a recheck ultrasound is that the radiologist can view the current streamed images while simultaneously comparing them to prior ones, resulting in better recheck diagnostics than ever before.

This service was perfected while helping San Diego’s homeless pets at the San Diego Humane Society for the past two years, and it is now available to the rest of the local veterinary community.

Meet Our Sonographer: Vicki Brown
Vicki Brown has been a sonographer for our practice since 2008, using her talent to probe and then stream real-time ultrasound images from the San Diego Humane Society every Tuesday, and as of early 2012 for the rest of San Diego’s veterinary community. Her career as a licensed sonographer spans approximately 30 years, having been a chief sonographer and radiology manager for two large hospitals in San Diego.

Please call us if you’re interested in using our Real-Time Ultrasound service for your patients.
(858) 634-5430

Other Posts

Food for thought on iodine-restricted diet for feline hyperthyroidism
Q&A: VICSD Off-Site Imaging
Thyroid Scan Image Comparisons
3-D CT & MRI Videos
Abdominal Ultrasound CE Seminar Presentations
DICOM CE Seminar Presentation
Free Download: VICSD Guide to Advanced Imaging

What’s Your Diagnosis?

This newsletter’s challenge is an 11-year-old M/C Australian Shepherd presenting chronic lameness on the left hind limb, with pain isolating to the left stifle. Medial buttress sign to the left stifle. Three views of the pelvis and stifles are available for interpretation.

Please review the images and complete the form below for your chance to win a pizza party for your hospital. Only veterinarians in San Diego County are eligible for a lunch party reward; however, all winners — both local and outside of San Diego County — will receive recognition on our website and in our next quarterly print and electronic newsletters.

Thank you to Dr. Brian Rois-Mendez of Acacia Animal Hospital for referring this case to us.

Q&A: VICSD Off-Site Imaging

Q. Why are your CT and MRI procedures done off site?
A. Utilizing medical imaging facilities offers the most advanced imaging at a price pet owners can afford. Off-site imaging makes us the only facility in San Diego to offer non-anesthetic CT scans (for most cases) while delivering the best image quality. Off-site MR imaging allows us to be the only veterinary facility in San Diego to perform scans on a more advanced 1.5 Tesla MRI, providing shorter scan times and imaging capabilities not typically possible on older machines that are sited at veterinary specialty hospitals.

While transporting our patients to and from a human facility is not ideal, the benefits of off-site imaging for stable patients has more than made up for it. Cutting anesthesia out of any procedure can significantly reduce patient risk.

Q. Why is anesthesia still needed for MRIs?
A. While the new equipment does mean faster scan times and better image quality, MRI scans still take 60-90 minutes to complete. Patients must lie still throughout this examination, requiring anesthesia.

Q. Which pets are the best candidates to receive these services?
A. For stable patients needing disease staging, a non-anesthetic CT is now an option — and potentially the only option for owners who are concerned about general anesthesia for their pet. This is not the choice for critical patients or animals needing radiation treatment planning. We also accept non-emergency patients needing an MRI.

Q. Can the pet go straight to the other facility without coming to VICSD first?
A. Unfortunately, no. We understand that this is more convenient for some pet owners, but the patients must first come to our facility so that we can check them in properly and have our doctors make sure that they are healthy enough to be transported and undergo the procedure.

Q. Is the transporting of the pet safe?
A. Yes. When the pet is transported, a licensed veterinary technician and doctor are with them throughout the entire process.

Q. What is this new cancellation policy that you have for CT and MRI procedures?
A. Because we must schedule the appointment off site, we must reserve time at the other facility in advance. If we cancel within 24 hours, we get charged a significant fee, which is why we ask for written confirmation (if rDVM scheduled the appointment) or a deposit (if the owner scheduled the appointment) in order to secure the appointment date and time.

Free Download: VICSD Guide to Advanced Imaging

Other Posts

Food for thought on the new iodine-restricted diet for feline hyperthyroidism
Real-Time Ultrasound is now streaming!
Thyroid Scan Image Comparisons
3-D CT & MRI Videos
Abdominal Ultrasound CE Seminar Presentations
DICOM CE Seminar Presentation

“What’s Your Diagnosis?” Challenge Winner & Answer: Jan-Mar 2012

Special thanks to Dr. Henry Yoo of Crenshaw Animal Hospital in Torrance, CA for sending us this case.

Case History

The patient is a 7-year-old, 75-pound M/C Lab who lost over 10 lbs since August. Vomiting occasionally and very low appetite.

Survey Radiographs

Four survey radiographs of the abdomen are available for interpretation. (Click on each to view larger images.)

Barium Series

A barium series was also performed. A few representative images from the barium series are included. (Click on each to view larger images.)

WYD Answer

Interpretation: There is a moderately dilated segment of small intestine present within the right mid-abdomen. Along the cranial margin of this dilated segment of small intestine there is a sharply marginated, almond shaped, peripherally soft tissue opaque, centrally fat opaque structure that is likely present within the lumen. The structure is best seen on the lateral views. The remaining segments of small intestine are normal in diameter. Abdominal detail is normal.

Conclusion: The segmental small intestinal dilation is consistent with a foreign body obstruction. The structure within the bowel lumen is characteristic of a peach pit.

Outcome: This dog went to surgery and a peach pit causing an intestinal obstruction was removed. The dog recovered uneventfully from surgery and was discharged the following day.

Congratulations to Grant Mayne, a San Diego relief vet, for winning this challenge!