title: Intercostal approach for right adrenalectomy in dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe an intercostal (IC) approach to the right adrenal (RA) gland in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cadaveric study and case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dogs with right adrenal (RA) tumors (n = 11) and normal canine cadavers (6).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cadavers had an IC (n = 3) or paracostal (3) approach to the RA. The relative spatial position of the RA to the incision was evaluated. Medical records (June 2007-December 2012) of dogs that had an IC approach to the RA were reviewed. Perioperative data were recorded and described.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In cadavers, the RA was closer to the cranial aspect of the surgical incision after an IC approach compared with a paracostal approach. The IC approach for right adrenalectomy was successfully performed in 11 dogs (6 adrenocortical carcinomas, 4 pheochromocytomas, and 1 osteosarcoma) with a mean anesthesia duration of 242 minutes and mean surgical of 144 minutes. Dogs had vascular invasion into the phrenicoabdominal vein (n = 11) and caudal vena cava (6). There were no significant intra- or postoperative complications. One dog was euthanatized intraoperatively. Median survival time for all dogs was 786 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The IC approach for right adrenalectomy offers superior exposure of the RA compared with a paracostal approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Luis R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Rivas
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milovancev
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Radlinsky
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cornell
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmiedt
mesh_terms: D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D000315:Adrenalectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D018268:Adrenocortical Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002102:Cadaver; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*