Surgical correction of pectus excavatum, using external splintage in two dogs and a cat.
Two 4-week-old pups and a 7-week-old kitten with respiratory distress and pectus excavatum were treated by external application of a coaptation splint to the ventral aspect of the thorax. Sutures were placed percutaneously around the sternum and through predrilled holes in a piece of moldable splint material that had been contoured to fit a normal-shaped thorax. Correction of the sternal deformity and alleviation of respiratory distress were achieved in all 3 animals. Frontosagittal index and vertebral index were assessed before and after surgery. In all 3 animals, both indices were abnormal before surgery, but were within the normal range after surgery.
Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843.
T W
TW
Fossum
R J
RJ
Boudrieau
H P
HP
Hobson
R L
RL
Rudy
D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005660:Funnel Chest / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000662:veterinary; D013165:Splints / Q000662:veterinary*