Standing lateral thoracotomy in horses: indications, complications, and outcomes.
Abstract: To describe the indications for, complications arising from, and outcome of horses that had standing lateral thoracotomy for pleural or pericardial disease. Methods: Case series. Methods: Horses (n=16). Methods: Medical records (January 1990-December 2008) of sedated standing horses that had lateral thoracotomy were reviewed. Clinical and surgical findings, perioperative and short-term complications were recorded. Long-term (>6 months) outcome was determined through telephone conversations with owners and veterinarians. Results: Mean (±SD) horse age was 6.6±5.3 years (range, 1-15 years). Thoracotomy was most commonly for treatment of recurrent or chronic pleural infection (94%). Anaerobic bacteria were frequently isolated from pleural effusion associated with pleuropneumonia (63%). Right lateral intercostal thoracotomy was performed in 13 horses (82%); intercostal muscle myectomy in 5 horses; and rib resection in 1. Perioperative complications were hemipneumothorax (2 horses) and short-term complications included cellulitis and abscessation of the thoracotomy site (6 horses). Fourteen (88%) horses survived to discharge and 46% of horses that survived returned to their previous level of athletic activity. Conclusions: Lateral thoracotomy is well tolerated by standing sedated horses with minimal perioperative and short-term complications. Conclusions: Standing lateral thoracotomy should be considered for the treatment of complicated pleuropneumonia in horses.
© Copyright 2010 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Publication Date: 2010-08-03 PubMed ID: 20673275DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.2010.00713.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article explores the use of standing lateral thoracotomy – a surgical operation involving the chest – on horses suffering from pleural or pericardial diseases. It outlines the reasons for the procedure, the potential complications, and the outcomes of the treatment, concluding it to be well tolerated with minimal short-term complications, with almost 50% of horses returning to their previous level of activity.
Research Methodology
- The study used a case series method, with the subjects being 16 horses that had undergone standing lateral thoracotomy between January 1990 and December 2008.
- Medical records of these horses were scrutinized. Data regarding clinical and surgical findings, as well as perioperative and short-term complications, were meticulously noted.
- Long-term outcomes were gauged through telephone conversations with horse owners and veterinarians, considering a time period of more than six months post surgery.
Indications & Proceedings
- The average age of the horses was calculated to be around 6.6 years. The predominant reason for thoracotomy was recurring or chronic pleural infection, accounting for 94% of cases.
- Anaerobic bacteria were often found in the pleural effusion associated with pleuropneumonia in 63% of the cases.
- The procedure employed was a right lateral intercostal thoracotomy in 13 horses, intercostal muscle myectomy in 5 horses and rib resection in one horse.
Complications & Outcomes
- There were some perioperative complications such as hemipneumothorax (collapsed lung) in two horses. Short-term complications included thoracotomy site infections like cellulitis and abscessation in 6 horses.
- Of all horses that underwent the surgery, 88% survived to be discharged. Remarkably, 46% of those survived returned to their former levels of athletic activity.
Conclusions
- The researchers found standing lateral thoracotomy to be a well-tolerated procedure with minimal perioperative and short-term complications.
- The study concludes that this procedure should be considered for treating complex cases of pleuropneumonia in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Hilton H, Aleman M, Madigan J, Nieto J.
(2010).
Standing lateral thoracotomy in horses: indications, complications, and outcomes.
Vet Surg, 39(7), 847-855.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950X.2010.00713.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA. hhilton@stanford.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Chronic Disease
- Female
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Male
- Pleural Diseases / surgery
- Pleural Diseases / veterinary
- Pleural Effusion / surgery
- Pleural Effusion / veterinary
- Pleuropneumonia / surgery
- Pleuropneumonia / veterinary
- Postoperative Complications / veterinary
- Thoracic Wall / pathology
- Thoracic Wall / surgery
- Thoracotomy / adverse effects
- Thoracotomy / methods
- Thoracotomy / veterinary
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Arroyo MG, Slovis NM, Moore GE, Taylor SD. Factors Associated with Survival in 97 Horses with Septic Pleuropneumonia. J Vet Intern Med 2017 May;31(3):894-900.
- Tomlinson JE, Byrne E, Pusterla N, Magdesian KG, Hilton HG, McGorum B, Davis E, Schoster A, Arroyo L, Dunkel B, Carslake H, Boston RC, Johnson AL. The Use of Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator (rTPA) in The Treatment of Fibrinous Pleuropneumonia in Horses: 25 Cases (2007-2012). J Vet Intern Med 2015 Sep-Oct;29(5):1403-9.
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