Long-term outcome of dogs treated surgically for idiopathic chylothorax: 11 cases (1995–2009)

Abstract

Results suggested that the prognosis for dogs surgically treated for idiopathic chylothorax was fair and that lung lobectomy was not a negative prognostic indicator.

Long‐term outcome of video‐assisted thoracoscopic thoracic duct ligation and pericardectomy in dogs with chylothorax: A multi‐institutional study of 39 cases

“…In these reports, resolution of chylothorax was seen in 92% of 13 dogs with idiopathic disease and in 40% of 5 dogs with nonidiopathic disease . From these few cases it was hypothesized that minimally invasive management of chylothorax may be at least as successful as the results reported for the combination of TDL and pericardectomy performed through 1 or 2 intercostal thoracotomies or a median sternotomy …”

“…Although this hypothesis seems plausible, little evidence has been provided in the literature, and, in 1 study, central venous pressure was largely unaffected by pericardectomy in clinical cases of canine chylothorax . Even though the role of pericardial disease in chylothorax has not yet been fully elucidated, surgical management using a combination of pericardectomy and thoracic duct ligation (TDL) has been reported most frequently for management of the condition in dogs with encouraging results . Several other surgical procedures have also been attempted to provide resolution of chylothorax, including cisterna chyli ablation, thoracic cavity omentalization, thoracic duct and cisterna chyli embolization, pleurodesis, and pleurovenous or pleuroperitoneal shunting …”

The Effect of Photodynamic Therapy on Cisterna Chyli Patency in Rats

“…Surgical management in animals with chylothorax often requires an invasive approach, depending on which procedures will be performed. The reported resolution rate after surgical management of idiopathic chylothorax in dogs and cats varies from 20% to 80% in cats and 73% to 100% in dogs . The mesenteric lymphatics drain chyle from the intestines to the retroperitoneally located cisterna chyli.…”

“…Surgical intervention (e.g., thoracic duct ligation, cisterna chyli ablation) is aimed at eliminating chyle flow through the cisterna and or thoracic duct, and may be the only alternative to euthanasia for patients that have failed to respond to less aggressive therapy. Although laparoscopic and thoracoscopic techniques may be used, surgical management of idiopathic chylothorax often requires multiple surgical approaches including a laparotomy and one or more thoracotomies . The invasive nature of these procedures often increases hospitalization time, may subject the patient to increased discomfort, and may increase the chance for postoperative complications.…”

Emphysematous lesions in the right cranial lung lobe and torsion of the right medial lung lobe in a British shorthair cat: a case report

“…This disorder is more common in dogs than in cats (Gicking and Aumann 2011). In addition to a traumatic aetiology, it has been associated with conditions such as chronic respiratory disease, pulmonary migrating foreign bodies, and chylothorax (Williams and Duncan 1986;Hoover et al 1992;Gelzer et al 1997;Neath et al 2000;Da Silva and Monnet 2011). In cats, the torsion is associated with diaphragmatic or peritoneopericardial hernia, feline asthma and chylothorax (Kerpsack et al 1994;Dye et al 1998;Mclane and Buote 2011;Hambrook and Kundig 2012).…”