Diagnostic Thoracoscopy

Abstract

Thoracoscopy is a minimally invasive diagnostic technique that provides access to the thoracic cavity for evaluation of intrathoracic pathology without surgical intervention. Intrathoracic structures can be visualized better with thoracoscopy than with an open thoracotomy. Indications for thoracoscopy include pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, intrathoracic masses, pneumothorax, primary pulmonary disease, and trauma. Thoracoscopy is technically similar to laparoscopy, using the same basic instrumentation and principles, but is easier to perform than laparoscopy. Patient preparation, anesthesia, and patient positioning are essentially the same for thoracoscopy as for a standard open thoracotomy. Thoracoscopy provides minimally invasive access to important diagnostic information with a very low incidence of complications.

Thoracoscopy with Concurrent Esophagoscopy for Persistent Right Aortic Arch in 9 Dogs

“…Optimal port location is also essential to achieve maximal visualization and appropriate triangulation for thoracoscopic procedures. 14,27 Both approaches used in our case series (caudodorsal or ventral port locations) facilitated triangulation and retraction of the left cranial lung lobe, allowing excellent visualization of the appropriate anatomy and transection of the LA and dissection of constricting bands without hindrance.…”

Thoracoscopic pericardiectomy for the management of a neoplastic pericardial effusion

“…Thoracoscopy offers many potential advantages over thoracotomy in both cats and dogs, those documented previously include decreased postoperative pain, decreased complications (such as wound dehiscence, seroma formation and front limb lameness), much smaller incisions and quicker recovery times (Walsh et al, ; Dupre et al, ; Monnet, ; Davidson et al, ). Pericardial effusions can be accurately and effectively drained under thoracoscopic guidance, and tissue samples can be collected for histological examinations (McCarthy and McDermaid, ; McCarthy, ). Significant pericardial effusions are rare in the cat and cardiac tamponade is seldom seen (Rush et al, ; Bouvy et al, ; Davidson et al, ; Nelson et al, ).…”

Thoracoscopic foreign body removal and right middle lung lobectomy to treat pyothorax in a dog

“…In small animals, the use of thoracoscopy for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures has gained in popularity over the last 10 years (Jackson and others 1999, McCarthy 1999, Potter and Hendrickson 1999, Walton 1999, Isakov and others 2000, Dupre and others 2001, McPhail and others 2001, Walton 2001, Kovac and others 2002, Radlinsky and others 2002, Brissot and others 2003, Borenstein and others 2004, Lansdowne and others 2005, McCarthy and Monnet 2005, Mayhew and Friedberg 2008). Among indications, thoracoscopy has successfully been used to determine the aetiology of pleural effusion in dogs and cats (Kovak and others 2002), and pyothorax was documented to be one of the most common causes of pleural effusions in dogs in one study (Mellanby and others 2002).…”

“…In small animals, the use of thoracoscopy for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures has gained in popularity over the last 10 years (Jackson and others 1999, McCarthy 1999, Potter and Hendrickson 1999, Walton 1999 . Among indications, thoracoscopy has successfully been used to determine the aetiology of pleural effusion in dogs and cats (Kovak and others 2002), and pyothorax was documented to be one of the most common causes of pleural effusions in dogs in one study (Mellanby and others 2002).…”