Thoracoscopic Surgical Techniques in Veterinary Medicine
Summary
Thoracoscopy has rapidly evolved as a minimally invasive tool in veterinary practice for both diagnostic and therapeutic interventions within the pleural cavity. By employing endoscopic cameras and specialised instruments through small thoracic ports, surgeons can conduct lung biopsies, resect lesions, assess diaphragmatic defects and manage mediastinal abnormalities with reduced trauma compared with open thoracotomy. Advances in camera optics, insufflation techniques, energy-based vessel sealing systems and flexible instrumentation have expanded the indications for thoracoscopic surgery across species, including small mammals, companion animals and equids. Enhanced visualisation of the pleural surface permits precise dissection around vascular and pulmonary structures, while tailored port placement, guided by imaging or anatomical landmarks, optimises access to various lung lobes and mediastinal regions. Clinical benefits include diminished postoperative pain, shorter hospital stays, lower complication rates and faster return to function. Ongoing refinement of techniques, training protocols and device design continues to broaden the global uptake of thoracoscopic procedures in veterinary medicine, underscoring their practical value in routine and complex thoracic surgery.
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Thoracoscopic Surgical Techniques in Veterinary Medicine publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in thoracoscopic surgical techniques in veterinary medicine across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Thoracoscopy: A minimally invasive procedure that uses an endoscope to visualise and operate within the pleural cavity through small thoracic ports.
Intercostal space: The anatomical gap between adjacent ribs, commonly used for the insertion of thoracoscopic ports.
Transdiaphragmatic approach: A technique in which an endoscopic port is created through the diaphragm to provide access to thoracic structures.
Accessory lung lobe: An additional pulmonary lobe found variably in canine anatomy, whose vascular and ligamentous attachments must be considered during thoracic surgery.
Lobectomy: Surgical removal of a lung lobe, which may be performed thoracoscopically or via open thoracotomy.
References
- The feasibility and effectiveness of thoracoscopic transdiaphragmatic approach for lung biopsy in rabbits. A randomized study 1. Acta Cirúrgica Brasileira (2020).
- Anatomical considerations for the surgical approach to the canine accessory lung lobe. Veterinary Surgery (2023).
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