Page 3 - Clinical Connections - Summer 2023
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

               Welcome to  the  summer  issue  of                           patients have been helped by the treatments.
          Clinical Connections! Last year saw us baking                       Francisco Llabres-Diaz discusses imaging-
          through a particularly hot British summer. I am                   guided  procedures  on  page  six.  Ultrasound
          not sure whether after 22 years I have become                     is the most commonly used imaging modality
          acclimatised to the cooler weather here but                       and  fine-needle  aspirates  are  the  most
          last year was a stinker – even for someone                        commonly performed of the ultrasound-
          born and bred in Sydney! We could easily see                      guided  procedures.  One  example  Francisco
          record temperatures again this year, which                        discusses  is  fine-needle  aspirates  of  small
          poses particular risks for pets, especially flat-                 lymph nodes, which can be a couple of
          faced breeds, overweight and older pets and                       millimetres  in  width.  Progress  in  this  field
          those with certain pre-existing conditions. And                   supports specialist veterinary training at the
          there  seems  little  doubt  we  should  expect                   RVC, as well as the animals referred to us.
          more frequent episodes of extreme conditions,                       The article from members of our exotics
          for at least the intermediate future.                             team,  on  page  seven,  also  highlights
            More positively, as veterinary professionals                    breakthroughs in treatment that can be
          it seems major developments in managing our                       achieved by a combination of expertise and
          patients are occurring almost as frequently                       advanced equipment. The acquisition by the
          as the previously mentioned extreme weather events.  As a   team of a radiosurgical unit and surgical magnification loupes has
          profession we have been seeing some seismic shifts in veterinary   expanded the depth and breadth of care that can be delivered.
          science and techniques over the years – and I am proud that the   This includes intricate procedures for the most delicate of patients.
          RVC has been involved in a large number of these.     On page eight Jenny  Reed discusses equine arrhythmias,
            In this issue we have articles about progress in a number of   including developments of diagnostic techniques. Once again,
          areas,  including  procedures  that  have  been  established  and   the  combination  of  expertise,  technology  and  innovative
          finessed  by  our  clinical  teams,  advancements  in  imaging  that   approaches is key to achieving successful outcomes. Managing
          allow our clinicians to help patients in new ways, and research   equine tachydysrhythmias remains a constantly evolving field –
          that is relevant for the whole profession.          and opportunities for successful resolution of these challenging
            Our cover article illustrates the range of cases tackled by our   cases continue to grow.
          Neurology and Neurosurgery Service in a typical week. In addition   Henny  Martineau,  Head  of  Veterinary  Forensic  Pathology,
          to the incredible work performed by members of that team, the   focuses on the problem of lamb scavenging in the article on page
          spectrum of cases illustrates the value of our transdisciplinary   nine. Predation of lambs by wildlife not only causes detrimental
          approach. Cases seen by Neurology and Neurosurgery routinely   suffering  to  lambs  and  ewes  but  can  also  have  a  significant
          have  input  from  Emergency  and  Critical  Care,  Orthopaedics,   impact on farmers. Henny discusses research that can shed light
          Oncology or Veterinary Physiotherapy – not to mention Diagnostic   on risk factors involved and help identify species contributing to
          Imaging!                                            the losses.
            Andy Yale’s article on page four, about sentinel lymph node   On page ten Dirk Werling, Professor of Molecular Immunology,
          mapping, illustrates how novel diagnostic tools can transform   outlines some fascinating research into the dispersal of intranasal
          how  clinical  teams  work  –  and  expand  what  they  can  offer   vaccine. The research, which could have broad ramifications for
          to patients.  This and other advancements in cancer care are   vets, employed a 3D printed calf head model to assess vaccine
          markedly improving the prognosis and quality of life of cats, dogs   dispersal.
          and other species.                                    I’d also encourage you to take a look at the short piece on page
            A decade ago, RVC Small Animal Referrals was the first UK   two about our survey of employers of RVC graduates. Feedback
          veterinary service to offer extracorporeal therapies for cats and   is incredibly valuable to us as it helps ensure that the RVC
          dogs. We remain the only service in the UK to provide it. Over   continues to equip graduates with the skills you need.
          the decade, the range of patients that could be helped by the
          pioneering treatment has expanded, spanning kidney injuries,   Professor David Church, Deputy Principal and Acting Vice
          immune-mediated disease and toxicities. The article on page five,   Principal (Clinical Affairs)
          by Rosanne Jepson and Stefano Cortellini (who lead the Renal
          Replacement Therapy Service), outlines different ways in which




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