A novel video-assisted thoracoscopic approach for pectus excavatum surgical treatment in a dog.

OBJECTIVE

To describe a novel, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) approach used to treat pectus excavatum (PE) in a dog.

ANIMALS: A 5 month-old, 5.1 kg, intact, female, Cockapoo.

STUDY

DESIGN

Case report.

METHODS

Clinical, imaging and surgical records of a dog with severe PE who underwent VATS-assisted sternal cast placement were reviewed and reported. Treatment involved introduction of a mild pneumothorax and use of VATS, allowing direct visualization and therefore safe passage of circumsternal sutures as they were placed to reduce the risk of vascular/cardiac or pulmonary penetration and intraoperative complication in this patient.

RESULTS

Treatment involved introduction of a mild pneumothorax and use of VATS, allowing direct visualization and therefore safe passage of circumsternal sutures as they were placed to reduce the risk of vascular/cardiac or pulmonary penetration and intraoperative complications in this patient. The patient recovered well and had an excellent long-term outcome with significantly improved vertebral index and frontosagittal index.

CONCLUSION

This modified technique resulted in an excellent outcome and minimized the risk of intraoperative complications during the surgical procedure in a dog.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This novel VATS approach for PE correction may provide a useful technique to help reduce intraoperative risk during PE correction in dogs.