What really happens to a pig's bloodwork once under anesthesia, and how much do those changes matter for your studies? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. McKayla Carlson, clinical veterinarian at Nationwide Children's Hospital, to unpack her recent paper, 'Effect of Anesthesia on Hematologic Parameters of Female Domestic Swine.' First, Dr. Carlson shares her path into laboratory animal medicine and the clinical case of a Göttingen mini pig named Gertie that inspired the paper. Then, we walk through the design of the study, its key findings, and the mechanisms that may explain the observed results. They also explore the limitations of current reference intervals and how factors such as sex, breed, and induction choice could alter results and interpretations. Join us to rethink what "safe" anesthesia really means for hematologic data in swine and how more informed protocols can support better animal care and better science with Dr. McKayla Carlson. Tune in now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Hear how Dr. Carlson's early research experiences led her into comparative medicine.
• Find out about the team behind the paper and each team member's role in the study.
• How a clinical case involving a Göttingen mini pig named Gertie inspired the study.
• Why pre-analytic, analytic, and post-analytic variables are crucial for interpreting CBC results.
• The design of the study and the two different induction protocols used.
• Gain an overview of the study's results and unexpected findings.
• Insights into the possible mechanisms behind the changes observed in the study.
• Unpack the limitations of the study and what future studies should consider.
• Explore the broader implications of anesthesia and why it is not "benign."
• Dr. Carlson shares her recommendations for interpreting results from anesthetized animals.

Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:

Dr. McKayla Carlson on LinkedIn

Nationwide Children's Hospital

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)

'Effect of Anesthesia on Hematologic Parameters of Female Domestic Swine'American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS)

AALAS Learning Library

Email AALAS

Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (JAALAS)The LASt Word: An AALAS Podcast