Page 4 - Clinical Connections - Autumn 2025

RVC RESEARCH STUDY VETERINARY SERVICES RVC.AC.UK
Specialist training
EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE
RESIDENTS’ REFLECTIONS

Clinical Connections asked some “Due to her lack of response to
residents in Emergency and Critical Care immunosuppressive medication, Kona
to share their reflections on their training underwent Therapeutic Plasma Exchange
experience and to share some clinical (TPE). Kona showed an excellent response
cases they have particularly enjoyed to this. After the procedure, Kona only
working on. As is routinely the case at required one further blood transfusion
the RVC, collaboration between different and was discharged home after two and
veterinary specialties was significant in a half weeks. She did well at home and
the success of the cases – and valuable was weaned off immunosuppressive
experience for the residents themselves. medications four months later. It is 18
months since her stay and Kona's owners
hird year resident Alison Robertson report that she is thriving, and it is like she
said: “The ECC residency has been was never unwell.”
T an amazing experience so far. One Alison added: “It was so rewarding to treat Peter and his scan (below)
of my favourite parts of working at the RVC Kona and cases like her since then. I feel
is being part of such a big team and learning very lucky to work somewhere that has such
from lots of different people. It is such a great teamwork and that offers advanced
supportive, collaborative, environment – treatments to help pets like Kona as much
and everyone works together to provide the as possible.”
best patient care possible.
“One dog that I particularly enjoyed looking Emily's experience
after during my residency was Kona. The Fellow final year ECC resident Emily
eight-year-old female neutered crossbreed Stacey commented: “Since embarking on
was presented to the RVC Emergency the Emergency and Critical Care residency
Referral Service in April 2024. She was at the RVC, I have been fortuitous to work “Peter had a central line, oesophagostomy
severely anaemic and was diagnosed with with some incredible members of the tube and nasal cannulae placed and was
immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia. multidisciplinary team to provide intensive returned to intensive care for recovery,
“The Internal Medicine and ECC services care hospitalisation for some of region’s where he also received packed red blood
worked together to treat Kona during her sickest pets. cell transfusions. Peter initially improved,
stay. She was started on dexamethasone to “One particular case I was involved in was however his breathing deteriorated a couple
suppress her immune system. Despite this, Peter, a five-year-old Brussels Griffon. Peter of days after surgery, suspected to be due
Kona had severe haemolysis and required was referred overnight in April 2024 from a to pulmonary thromboemboli, for which
seven packed red blood cell transfusions south London veterinary hospital, who were anticoagulants were started. Thankfully,
in six days. She was hospitalised in the concerned about his dyspnoea. Peter responded well to this medication
intensive care unit (ICU) where she required “On arrival, Peter was triaged in our and was successfully discharged after 10
continuous monitoring by our amazing Emergency Room and brought to Intensive days in hospital to continue his recovery at
nursing team during her transfusions. Care for oxygen therapy, alongside fluids home.”
and vasopressors for his hypotension. Point Emily added: “Peter has recently
of care ultrasound revealed abnormalities celebrated his 7 birthday and can be found
th
of his lungs and pleural effusion. He was chasing his brother across south London
sedated and I performed thoracocentesis. parks with much vigour! We are very grateful
In-house fluid analysis revealed a pyothorax. to Peter’s family who ran the London
As such, I placed chest drains in both hemi- Marathon in 2025 in aid of the RVC’s charity
thoraces to drain this fluid and initiated the Animal Care trust.”
broad-spectrum antibiosis.
“The following day, Peter underwent
a CT scan, which documented severe
consolidation of the cranial subsegment of
the left cranial lung lobe, with concern for
necrosis and possible lung lobe torsion.
Peter underwent an emergency median
sternotomy with the soft tissue surgeons
and anaesthesia teams to remove the
affected lung lobe.
For small animal referrals, please call:
Kona 01707 666399
Email:
qmhreception@rvc.ac.uk

4 Autumn 2025