Thoracic Surgery
Thoracic surgery refers to surgery on organs in the chest, including heart, lungs and esophagus. There are two approaches to thoracic surgery, intercostal thoracotomy and median sternotomy, that are most commonly used in small animals.
Thoracotomy is commonly performed to correct routine cardiovascular defects such as patent ductus arteriosus and to evaluate and correct respiratory diseases such as pulmonary neoplasia.
Exploratory thoracotomy may be indicated to determine the extent of diseases such as neoplasia and diffuse infection and to obtain biopsies to help establish a definitive diagnosis.
Many diseases or conditions can be treated through thoracic surgery these include:
1. Lung mass
2. Pneumothorax
3. Pyothorax
4. Chylothorax
5. Lung torsion
6. Diaphragmatic hernia
7. Pulmonary Ductus Arteriosis (PDA)
Preoperative Considerations
If your pet comes into the clinic for thoracic surgery, there are some preoperative considerations that must be performed.
· A full history will be reviewed, and a physical examination will be conducted.
· Any diagnostic tests performed will be and if necessary, repeated.
· Thoracic radiographs and diagnostic imaging are imperative for the veterinarian to fimiliarise themselves with the condition. This assists in decision making for surgical approach going forward.
· Blood tests, which may include a complete blood count (CBC) and serum chemistry profile, may be requested to establish the patients baseline post-surgery.
