title: Thoracoscopic anatomy of dogs positioned in lateral recumbency.
abstract: In four healthy, adult male German shepherd dogs, thoracoscopy was performed to provide a detailed description and illustration of the endoscopic anatomy of the normal intrathoracic structures of dogs. The dogs were anesthetized and placed in left or right lateral recumbency. The cannula and the endoscope were advanced into the thoracic cavity via entry of the free upper side in the dorsal third of the eighth intercostal space. Most intrathoracic structures of the left and right hemithorax were endoscopically visible. During the four thoracoscopic procedures, endoscopic photographs were taken and are illustrated in this paper. A sound knowledge of the anatomy of intrathoracic structures is a prerequisite for diagnostic and therapeutic thoracoscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: De Rycke
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Gielen
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Polis
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van Ryssen
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: van Bree
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Simoens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture; D012016:Reference Values; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000662:veterinary; D013909:Thorax / Q000033:anatomy & histology*