Chylothorax associated with dirofilariasis in a cat.

A 4-year-old castrated domestic shorthair cat was referred for treatment of chylothorax. Thoracic duct lymphangiography revealed partial obstruction of the cranial vena cava, as evidenced by filling of mediastinal lymphatics with dye instead of all of the dye entering the vena cava. The thoracic duct was ligated via left 10th intercostal space thoracotomy. Immediate postligation lymphangiography revealed successful duct ligation. Results of a serum ELISA for adult heartworm antigen that was performed before surgery were positive. Drug treatment for the heartworm disease was not recommended, because the pleural effusion had ceased (as determined by radiographic examination 3.5 and 9 months after surgery) and the cat was doing well clinically. Sixteen months after surgery, the owner reported that the cat was doing well and did not have signs of respiratory problems.

Fixation of the deferent ducts for retrodisplacement of the urinary bladder and prostate in canine perineal hernia.

The deferent ducts were secured to the lateral abdominal wall in nine dogs to correct retrodisplacement of the urinary bladder and prostate. Perineal herniorrhaphy and fixation of the deferent ducts were performed in seven dogs; in two dogs, only fixation of the deferent ducts was performed. All dogs were clinically normal after 4 to 28 months (mean, 14.7 months).

Vulvovaginectomy and perineal urethrostomy for neoplasms of the vulva and vagina.

Vulvovaginectomy and perineal urethrostomy were performed in three dogs with extensive neoplasms of the vulva and vagina. One benign tumor (fibroleiomyoma) and two malignant tumors (transitional cell carcinoma and anaplastic spindle cell sarcoma) were diagnosed. Survival times were 9 weeks to 10 months. Urinary continence was preserved in all three dogs. The procedure may be curative for benign tumors or malignant tumors that have not yet metastasized; it is a palliative procedure for advanced malignancies.