Video-assisted thoracic surgery for the management of pyothorax in dogs: 14 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To report the perioperative findings and outcome of dogs undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for the management of pyothorax. DESIGN: Multi-institutional, retrospective study. ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs (n = 14). METHODS: Medical records of dogs with pyothorax managed via VATS were reviewed for signalment, history, clinical signs, clinicopathological findings, diagnostic imaging results, surgical variables, bacterial culture and sensitivity results, post-operative management and outcome. VATS was performed after placing a paraxyphoid endoscopic portal and 2-3 intercostal instrument portals. VATS exploration was followed by one or more of the following: mediastinal debridement, tissue sampling, pleural lavage, and placement of a thoracostomy tube. RESULTS: Two dogs (14%) required conversion from VATS to an open thoracotomy to completely resect proliferative mediastinal tissue. These dogs had severe pleural effusion on preoperative thoracic radiographs and one had severely thickened contrast-enhancing mediastinum on preoperative computed tomography (CT). The cause of pyothorax was identified as a penetrating gastric foreign body (n = 2), migrating plant material (n = 2), and idiopathic (n = 10). The median follow-up time was 143 days (range, 14-2402 days). All dogs were discharged from the hospital and their clinical signs resolved. One patient had recurrence of a pyothorax requiring revision surgery 17 months postoperatively. CONCLUSION: VATS allows minimally invasive treatment of uncomplicated canine pyothorax. Preoperative thoracic CT may help identify candidates for VATS among dogs with pyothorax.

Advances in Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery, Thoracoscopy.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is an evolving modality in the treatment and management of a variety of pathologies affecting dogs and cats. Representative disease processes include pericardial effusion, pericardial neoplasia, cranial mediastinal neoplasia, vascular ring anomaly, pulmonary neoplasia, pulmonary blebs and bullae, spontaneous pneumothorax, and chylothorax. Several descriptive and small case reports have been published on the use of VATS in veterinary medicine. More recently, larger case series and experimental studies have revealed potential benefits and limitations not documented previously. Significant technological advances over the past 5 years have made possible a host of new applications in VATS. This article focuses on updates and cutting-edge applications in VATS.

Comparison of the mechanical behaviors of locked and nonlocked plate/screw fixation applied to experimentally induced rotational osteotomies in canine ilia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the mechanical behaviors of 2 locked (parallel and diverging screws) and 1 nonlocked (NL) version of triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO) plate/screw fixation. STUDY DESIGN: In vitro biomechanical evaluation. ANIMALS: Cadaveric canine hemipelves. METHODS: Comparison 1-NL screws 20° TPO (NL-20) construct versus locked parallel (LP) screws 20° TPO (LP-20) construct (n = 7). Comparison 2-LP-20 construct versus locked diverging (LD) screws 20° TPO (LD-20) construct (n = 6). Condition 1-Nondestructive loading to determine stiffness. Condition 2-Cyclic loading to determine stiffness, screw loosening, and osteotomy gap displacement. Condition 3-Load to failure (yield load, yield displacement, maximum load, load to failure, failure mode). RESULTS: Stiffness was not significantly different for NL-20 versus LP-20 constructs (P = .48) or for LP-20 versus LD-20 constructs (P = .83). Screw loosening was significantly more frequent for NL-20 versus LP-20 (P = .01) and for LD-20 versus LP-20 constructs (P = .02). The relative risk for screw loosening with NL-20 constructs versus LP-20 constructs was 1.4 (95% CI: 1.1-1.8). The relative risk for screw loosening with LD-20 versus LP-20 was 1.6 (95% CI: 1.1-2.2). Yield load was significantly greater for LP-20 versus NL-20 and LD-20 constructs (P = .04, P = .03), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: No TPO constructs tested maintained complete integrity after cyclic loading; however, screw loosening was significantly reduced and yield loads were significantly larger for LP-20 plate/screw constructs.

In vitro comparison of proximal ulnar osteotomy and distal ulnar osteotomy with release of the interosseous ligament in a canine model.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of proximal ulnar osteotomy (PUO), distal ulnar osteotomy (DUO), and DUO with release of the interosseous ligament (DOLR) on displacement of the proximal ulna at the radioulnar joint. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental mechanical study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Cadaveric, skeletally mature canine thoracic limb pairs (n=11). METHODS: Thoracic limbs disarticulated at the elbow were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: (A) limbs were tested with no treatment (NOTX), then with PUO; (B) limbs were tested with DUO followed by DOLR. A distraction force was applied to the proximal ulna with the distal limb secured in a frame, and displacement of the proximal ulnar segment at the radioulnar joint was recorded. RESULTS: Mean displacement was 0.36 mm (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0-1.12 mm) in the NOTX group, 4.68 mm (95% CI: 3.82-5.55 mm) for PUO limbs, 0.95 mm (95% CI: 0.52-1.39 mm) for the DUO group, and 4.36 mm (95% CI: 3.71-5.02 mm) for the DOLR group. Mean ulnar displacement of the DOLR group was significantly different compared with the DUO group, but there was no significant difference between the PUO and DOLR groups. CONCLUSIONS: No significant difference was observed in displacement of the proximal ulnar segment after DOLR compared with PUO.

Serological survey of vector-borne zoonotic pathogens in pet cats and cats from animal shelters and feral colonies.

Although cats and their arthropod parasites can sometimes be important sources of zoonotic diseases in humans, the extent of exposure among various cat populations to many potential zoonotic agents remains incompletely described. In this study, 170 domestic cats living in private homes, feral cat colonies, and animal shelters from California and Wisconsin were evaluated by serology to determine the levels of exposure to a group of zoonotic vector-borne pathogens. Serological positive test results were observed in 17.2% of cats for Rickettsia rickettsii, 14.9% for R akari, 4.9% for R typhi, 11.1% for R felis, and 14.7% for Bartonella henselae. Although vector-borne disease exposure has been documented previously in cats, the evaluation of multiple pathogens and diverse cat populations simultaneously performed here contributes to our understanding of feline exposure to these zoonotic pathogens.