Tag Archive for: Vetrix

Your Guide to Corneal Ulcers: Our Collab with Dr. Shelby Reinstein

At Vetrix, our main goal is to help you provide the best possible care for your patients—which includes not only the latest technology in regenerative medicine, but also helpful resources for you and your practice. Keep reading for a breakdown of our Quick Guide to Corneal Ulcers, created with Dr. Shelby Reinstein. 

A Super Simple Guide to Corneal Ulcers

When it comes to corneal ulcers in animals, there are five important steps you need to remember: classify, cause, treat, heal, and recheck. Now, we’ll break down each step into specific actions. 

Classify

The first step, of course, is to examine your patient’s eye. You’re checking to see if the corneal ulcer is simple or complicated. “Simple” refers to a few different key characteristics:

  • Superficial;
  • No evidence of infection;
  • Heals quickly;
  • No scar formation;
  • No neovascularization or corneal melting.

In general, a  “complicated” corneal ulcer will have one or more of the above things present, including the threat of vision loss or permanent damage to the eye. 

Cause

Once you’ve classified your patient’s corneal ulcer as simple or complicated, it’s time to determine the cause. Your case will fall into one of three cause categories: mechanical, primary corneal disease, or infectious. Each of these main categories are then broken down further into specific causes. For example, some potential mechanical causes include a bite injury, an eyelid mass, and distichia. 

Treat

Once you’ve determined the cause, it’s time to create a treatment plan. For a simple corneal ulcer, common treatment options include prescribing a broad-spectrum drop or ointment, an oral anti-inflammatory, and some additional pain control. For a complicated corneal ulcer, however, your treatment plan will include a lot more. 

Heal

When it comes to healing a corneal ulcer, the products you use matter. You’ll want something that will enhance the growth of corneal epithelial cells, reduce corneal scar formation, and provide long-lasting lubrication. That’s where Vetrix EyeQ Amniotic Eye Drops come in. They contain anti-inflammatory components to aid traditional treatments. 

Recheck

Rechecking is a crucial part of any treatment plan—after all, you’re treating a living thing, not a machine. Make sure you’re carefully monitoring your patient’s progress and adjusting their plan as needed!

Looking to Better Your Veterinary Practice?

Vetrix is the leading provider of veterinary regenerative medicine. Our technologies harness the natural capabilities of your patients’ existing cells for more efficient, natural healing. If you’re interested in learning more about our product, feel free to reach out! We look forward to hearing from you and answering your questions. 

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Polypropylene Mesh vs. BioSIS: How Vetrix BioSIS Is Superior

We know you want to give your patients the best care there is. From diet and nutrition to coat care to wound care, you want to feel confident that you’re up to speed on the latest technology and products. This can be difficult when there’s so much information out there. When it comes to wound care, you can trust Vetrix to deliver the most accurate information and help you take the best care of your patients. Keep reading to learn how Vetrix BioSIS is superior to polypropylene mesh.

The Inflammatory Response

In a study done on rats, researchers compared Marlex (MX), a polypropylene mesh, to small intestine submucosa (BioSIS), a non-cross-linked collagen matrix, to repair the abdominal wall. When implanted, MX caused an immediate and intense inflammatory response in the rats. However, early-stage tensile strength was increased. The inflammatory response may be attributed to poor tissue compatibility, but it’s important to note that such a strong inflammatory response can lead to increased adhesion formation, bladder dysfunction, bowel obstruction, as well as other maladies.

The inflammatory response with BioSIS was present, however, the response was less than that of the MX. 

Adhesion Density

BioSIS implants showed thicker density than MX implants within the first 14 days of extraction, however, this subsided after the 14-day mark passed. This density was attributed to fluid accumulation. While MX increased less in thickness during the initial 14 days, this perBioSISted throughout the rest of the 90 days. At the 30 day mark, the adhesion grade was greater in the MX treated extractions.

The extent of adhesion formation was the same in both groups up until 90 days when BioSIS-implanted rats showed more adhesions. So while BioSIS implants produced more adhesions after 90 days, they were less dense than the MX implant adhesions.

Collagen Production

As mentioned earlier, BioSIS produced a lower inflammatory response than MX. This was indicative of the type of collagen forming. The collagen production in the BioSIS explants was slower than that of MX. However, at the end of four weeks, 90% of the BioSIS implants had degraded and were replaced by macrophages and stronger scar tissue. This shows that the novel collagen produced was superior to that of the MX implant.

The issue of the BioSIS being weaker than MX can be overcome by increasing the number of layers in the BioSIS implant. And although the tensile strength was weaker at one month, by the end of the 90 days, the strength of the materials was comparable.

Why BioSIS Is Superior to Polypropylene Mesh

In summary, BioSIS implants produced less dense adhesions, a significantly lower inflammatory response, and a more architecturally stable collagen matrix for the formation of stronger scar tissue.

Have questions about Vetrix BioSIS? We’d love to hear from you and give you more information. Contact us today!  And if you’d like to read more about interesting topics like this, check out our blog page.

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Vetrix’s Healion Amniotic Wound Matrix

Treating wounds is part of everyday life in a veterinary practice. Vets encounter different types of injury daily from accidental wounds to surgical or recurring wounds, all requiring different types of wound management according to the patient. 

Supporting wounds and offering the best in regenerative technology can ensure that the healing time is cut down and the patient is on the right track. The Vetrix Healion amniotic wound matrix is paving the way for regenerative medicine. 

What Is the Healion Amniotic Wound Matrix? 

The wound matrix developed by Vetrix is a regenerative decellularized amniotic membrane; the material consists of collagen and an extracellular matrix. The matrix is rich in proteins, laminins, and proteoglycans. 

The matrix stimulates healing and growth of the dermis while ensuring that wounds heal faster and better with fewer complications. Naturally occurring growth factors within the matrix stimulate the regeneration of the epidermis and offer protection at the wound site. 

The Benefits Of Vetrix Wound Matrix

There are many benefits to using an amniotic wound matrix. Reducing your patient’s healing time can significantly reduce the risk of infection and complications that could arise from prolonged wound management. 

  • Setting the right environment – The Vetrix Healion creates the perfect healing environment. The amniotic matrix sets the healing environment right, allowing tissues to repair effectively and efficiently. 
  • Sterile – The sterile applicator ensures that you are not inserting anything into the wound that could compromise healing. 
  • Ease of use – Healion is packaged in a unique dispenser; the ergonomic design is created for ease of use and allows hard-to-treat areas to be accessed with ease.
  • Cost-effective – Faster healing wounds cost less. The Vetrix matrix is a cost-effective solution for your practice’s wound management needs. By reducing the need for patients to return, they save on pricey wound maintenance trips to your practice. 
  • Single application – The wound matrix is efficient enough to be used in a single application in most cases. More complex wounds might require an additional application of the Vetrix Healion; however, a single application is needed for most injuries. 
  • Open wound care – The matrix modulates inflammation and stimulates a healing environment. 

Investing in wound care can resolve some of the most complicated wounds, allowing animals to return to their regular lives sooner, reducing stress and frustration for veterinary practices, owners, and the animals themselves. 

If you have any concerns or want any additional information – get in touch with Vetrix; we are happy to answer any questions and walk you through the Healion Wound Matrix.

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Dr. Herrington- August’s Featured Case

August 2018

This months’ case comes to us from Dr. Mike Herrington DVM. He leverages Healion, Vetrix’s amnion wound particulate to close a mass removal.

Dr. Herrington practices at Englewood Animal Health Center in Englewood, FL. Read below to learn why he used Healion and his results utilizing this technology.

Case background: “Gracie is a 6yr old F/S Boxer mix who presented for removal of about a 1.5cm dermal mass on the dorsal mid shaft R forelimb. The mass removal was the easy part, but closure was difficult. The mass was directly over the cephalic vein, so I did not want to leave it open. I had to undermine completely around the circumference of the leg and make about 2 dozen mesh incisions, as well subQ anchors just to get the skin apposed. Even so it was tight, so I splinted it and applied a modified Robert Jones bandage. I performed daily wet-dry bandage changes, using Entederm (nystatin-neomycin-triamcinolone) ointment, mainly for the anti-inflammatory properties. The skin just didn’t stretch as much as I was hoping, and the cephalic vein was being compressed, so her foot became edematous and the skin around the incision is showing some focalized necrosis. On April 7th I made 2 releasing incisions under bupivicaine, taking great care to leave the cephalic vein covered. I was able to massage a good amount of the edema out. I replaced the splint & bandage, this time switching to silvadene cream. She is also on carprofen and cephalexin orally BID.” – Dr. Herrington

Initial Healion Application

Healion was initially applied on 4/11/18, 8 days after surgery, to the releasing incision sites. Gracie got her bandage off 3 days later and licked the Healion off the wound.

Reapplying Healion

Healion was reapplied per suggestion from Vetrix on 4/16/18. No further complications occurred.

4 Days Post Second Application

Healing proceeded well, a healthy granulation bed formed by 4/19/18. The splint was removed from the bandage on 4/20/18 (4 days post Healion application), with Gracie able to fully bear weight on the affected leg.

5/4/2018 (18 Days post Healion application)

Bandaging was maintained to protect the healing wound.

5/14/2018 (28 days post Healion application)

Epithelialization proceeded well, and was complete on 5/14/18. Carprofen and cephalexin therapy was maintained until 5/14/18.

Know someone who could benefit from these treatments? Send them our way and ask about our new customer referral program!

Do you have a case that you would like featured? Contact us and let us know!

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