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

Objective To report outcomes of thoracoscopic (TL) and thoracoscopic‐assisted lung lobectomy (TAL) for treatment of non‐neoplastic pulmonary consolidation (PC) in dogs. Study design Retrospective case series. Animals Twelve client‐owned dogs. Methods The 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. Results Nine 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). Conclusion Thoracoscopic (TL) and thoracoscopic‐assisted lung lobectomy (TAL) is a reasonable surgical approach in select dogs with PC. Clinicial Relevance Conversion rates were higher than those historically reported for dogs undergoing thoracoscopic lung lobectomy for primary lung tumors.