title: Thoracotomy in adult dairy cattle: 14 cases (1979-1991).
abstract: Fourteen cows were subjected to thoracotomy as an aid in the treatment of either septic pericarditis (n = 7) or unilateral pleuritis (fibrous or purulent; n = 7). Thoracic lesions were primary in 4 cows, secondary to traumatic reticuloperitonitis in 9 cows, and secondary to extension of a liver abscess in 1 cow. Thoracotomy was performed on 9 cows under local anesthesia. Surgery was performed on 5 cows under general anesthesia; 2 died during anesthesia, and 2 others were euthanatized. Of the 10 cows allowed to recover from surgery, 4 had pericarditis and 6 had pleuritis. Four cows with pleuritis had thoracic abscesses. All but 1 cow with pericarditis died or were euthanatized, and 5 of the 6 cows with pleuritis were discharged from the hospital. A year after surgery, 1 cow was culled because of infertility, and the other 5 cows were returned to production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853.
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Ducharme
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Fubini
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Rebhun
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Beck
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000662:veterinary; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D008169:Lung Abscess / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D010998:Pleurisy / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000662:veterinary*