34th Annual Scientific Meeting proceedings

Objectives:

Accessory lung lobe (ALL) lobectomy is very occasionally indicated. The surgical technique and short-term outcome of ALL have not been reported in dogs. The aim of this study is to describe ALL lobectomy performed either via right or left intercostal thoracotomy and intraoperative and post-operative complications in a small population of dogs. 

Methods:

The medical records of 11 dogs that underwent ALL lobectomy at 3 veterinary institutions between 2009 and 2023 were reviewed. Signalment, history, physical examination, diagnostics, hospitalization time, surgical approach, type of lobectomy, concurrent procedures, intraoperative/postoperative complications, duration of indwelling thoracic drain and short-term outcomes were recorded.

Results:

Eleven dogs underwent ALL lobectomy either via right (n=9) or left (n=2) intercostal thoracotomy. Partial (n=6) or total lobectomy (n=5) with TA stapler (n=9) or surgical ligation (n=2) were performed. Additional procedures (n=3) were also performed. Histopathology (n=9) was consistent with pneumonia due to an infectious process or a migrating vegetable foreign body (n=5), pulmonary carcinoma (n=2), pulmonary bullae (n=1), or blastomycosis (n=1). Iatrogenic lesion to the left caudal lung lobe occurred in one case via left intercostal thoracotomy. The mean duration of indwelling thoracic drain was 2.7 days (range 1-4 days).  Complications occurred postoperatively in 6 dogs and included wound infection (n=1), cough (n=1), dyspnea (n=1), pneumothorax with secondary pyothorax (n=1), adverse reaction to medication (n=1), inappetence (n=1). Revision surgery was required in one case. All dogs survived to hospital discharge.

Conclusions:

Accessory lung lobectomy can be performed either via left or via right sided intercostal thoracotomy.