title: Standing lateral thoracotomy in horses: indications, complications, and outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the indications for, complications arising from, and outcome of horses that had standing lateral thoracotomy for pleural or pericardial disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Horses (n=16).
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records (January 1990-December 2008) of sedated standing horses that had lateral thoracotomy were reviewed. Clinical and surgical findings, perioperative and short-term complications were recorded. Long-term (>6 months) outcome was determined through telephone conversations with owners and veterinarians.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean (±SD) horse age was 6.6±5.3 years (range, 1-15 years). Thoracotomy was most commonly for treatment of recurrent or chronic pleural infection (94%). Anaerobic bacteria were frequently isolated from pleural effusion associated with pleuropneumonia (63%). Right lateral intercostal thoracotomy was performed in 13 horses (82%); intercostal muscle myectomy in 5 horses; and rib resection in 1. Perioperative complications were hemipneumothorax (2 horses) and short-term complications included cellulitis and abscessation of the thoracotomy site (6 horses). Fourteen (88%) horses survived to discharge and 46% of horses that survived returned to their previous level of athletic activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lateral thoracotomy is well tolerated by standing sedated horses with minimal perioperative and short-term complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Standing lateral thoracotomy should be considered for the treatment of complicated pleuropneumonia in horses.
authors.affiliation: William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA. hhilton@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hilton
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aleman
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Madigan
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nieto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D011001:Pleuropneumonia / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary; D035441:Thoracic Wall / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome