Evaluation of long-term outcome after lung lobectomy for canine non-neoplastic pulmonary consolidation via thoracoscopic or thoracoscopic-assisted surgery in 12 dogs

ObjectiveTo report outcomes of thoracoscopic (TL) and thoracoscopic-assisted lung lobectomy (TAL) for treatment of non-neoplastic pulmonary consolidation (PC) in dogs. Study designRetrospective case series. AnimalsTwelve client-owned dogs. MethodsThe medical records of 12 dogs that underwent TL or TAL for PC at 3 veterinary institutions between 2011 and 2020 were reviewed. Signalment, history, physical examination, diagnostics, days in hospital, anesthetic and procedure times, intraoperative/postoperative complications, conversion rates, duration of indwelling thoracic drain, and long-term outcomes were recorded. ResultsNine patients underwent a TL approach and 3 underwent TAL. In those that underwent TL, conversion to an intercostal thoracotomy was performed in 4 out of 9 dogs. Conversion was performed due to adhesions (n = 3) or poor visualization (1). Histopathologic examination was consistent with pneumonia due to an infectious process (n = 10), bronchioalveolar malformation with abnormal cilia (1), and left-sided cardiac insufficiency vs. pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (1). The mean duration of hospital stay was 4 days (range, 1-6 days). Complications occurred postoperatively in 7 dogs and included self-limiting hemorrhage (n = 3), self-resolving pneumothorax (2), incisional dehiscence (1), and severe dyspnea in a brachycephalic breed leading to euthanasia (1). For the 11 dogs that survived the perioperative period, there was no evidence of recurrence with a median follow up of 24 months (range, 5-120 months). ConclusionThoracoscopic (TL) and thoracoscopic-assisted lung lobectomy (TAL) is a reasonable surgical approach in select dogs with PC. Clinicial RelevanceConversion rates were higher than those historically reported for dogs undergoing thoracoscopic lung lobectomy for primary lung tumors.