title: Pericardioscopic imaging findings in cadaveric dogs: comparison of an apical pericardial window and sub-phrenic pericardectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the pericardioscopic cardiovascular anatomy visible between apical pericardial window (PW) and sub-phrenic pericardectomy (SPP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Canine cadavers (n = 5).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thoracoscopy was performed using a transdiaphragmatic subxyphoid and right and left intercostal portals. A 4 cm × 4 cm apical PW was created with endoscopic scissors. The intra-pericardiac structures were then pericardioscopically assessed using a subjective ordinal scale (0: not visible, 1: <50% seen, 2: >50% seen) before SPP. Assessment was repeated after SPP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An apical PW provided limited access to the cardiac structures, with only the right ventricle >50% visible in all cadavers. The right atrium, right auricle, left ventricle, right coronary artery, and interventricular paraconal branch of the left coronary artery were observed but were typically <50% visible after apical PW. The left atrium and auricle, and heart base could not be consistently seen through an apical PW. Sub-phrenic pericardectomy significantly improved observation of all intrapericardiac structures assessed, except for the right atrium and right ventricle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PW centered over the cardiac apex limits evaluation of the pericardial space during pericardioscopy compared to SPP in cadaveric dogs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
authors.forename: Owen T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.forename: J Brad
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Case
authors.forename: Gary W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Ellison
authors.forename: Eric L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Monnet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs / Q000601:surgery; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000601:surgery; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000601:surgery; D010491:Pericardial Window Techniques / Q000662:veterinary*; D010492:Pericardiectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D010496:Pericardium / Q000601:surgery; D013906:Thoracoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*