Thoracoscopic versus open partial pericardectomy in dogs: Comparison of postoperative pain and morbidity

Objective-To evaluate postoperative pain and morbidity in dogs undergoing o pen thoracotomy and partial pericardectomy versus thoracoscopic pericardect omy. Study Design-Research study in normal dogs. Animals or Sample Population-Fourteen mixed breed healthy dogs. Methods-Seven dogs had a partial pericardectomy through a standard left lat eral thoracotomy at the fifth intercostal space. The remaining seven dogs u nderwent selective lung ventilation and thoracoscopic partial pericardectom y. Surgery sites in both groups were bandaged and each dog received a singl e postoperative dose of morphine (0.2 mg/kg, intramuscularly [IM]). Postope rative pain was evaluated using a standard pain score table at 1, 5, 9, 17, 29, and 53 hours after surgery. Dogs receiving a pain score of six or grea ter received an additional dose of morphine. At each observation point, blo od samples were taken to measure blood glucose and plasma cortisol concentr ations. Pain scores, blood glucose, and plasma cortisol concentrations were compared between the two groups using two-way ANOVA. Results-Blood glucose concentrations, plasma cortisol concentrations, and p ain scores were significantly different between the two groups, with the th oracotomy dogs having higher values at 1, 5, and 9 hours postoperatively. T hree of the open thoracotomy dogs required additional analgesia after the i nitial dose of morphine. In addition, two dogs that underwent open thoracot omy were lame in the left forelimb and two others developed dehiscence of t heir wounds. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Thoracoscopic partial pericardectomy has several advantages over open partial pericardectomy including decreased po stoperative pain, fewer wound complications, and more rapid return to funct ion. (C) Copyright 1999 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.