Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
CT scan details of thoracic duct before and after surgery in dogs
By Kanai, Hiroo et al.·Published in Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association·2021·Kanai Veterinary Surgery, Japan·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Canine idiopathic chylothorax: Anatomic characterization of the pre- and postoperative thoracic duct using computed tomography lymphography.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with idiopathic chylothorax, a condition where lymph fluid builds up in the chest, underwent surgery to help resolve their symptoms. They received a combination of two surgical procedures: pericardiectomy and thoracic duct ligation, which were performed using a minimally invasive technique. After surgery, some dogs still showed signs of the condition, possibly due to small, previously undetected ducts that became visible only after the surgery changed the pressure in their lymphatic system. Understanding these hidden ducts could help improve future treatment and reduce the chances of the condition coming back.
People also search for: dog chylothorax treatment · idiopathic chylothorax surgery · dog lymph fluid in chest · why is my dog coughing after surgery
Abstract
Surgical treatment has improved the prognosis of canine idiopathic chylothorax, although a recurrence of the disease occurs occasionally after the procedure. An improved understanding of possible causes for this recurrence would be helpful for prognosis and treatment planning in affected patients. In this retrospective case series study, we described the detailed pre- and postoperative computed tomographic lymphography (CTLG) imaging characteristics for a group of dogs with surgically confirmed idiopathic chylothorax. Preoperative CTLG was performed in 12 of 14 dogs diagnosed with idiopathic chylothorax. Thoracic ducts were present on the right side in 10 dogs, left side in one dog, and bilaterally in one dog. All the 14 dogs received a combination therapy of pericardiectomy and thoracic duct ligation (TDL) by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. One week after surgery, a postoperative CTLG was performed, and the thoracic ducts were apparent in seven of 14 dogs. Three dogs had an unchanged course of the thoracic duct, which could have resulted from a missed duct. Four dogs were identified as having a bypass formation: the oblique duct originated at the ligation site and connected to the duct on the other side. Our findings indicated that one of the possible causes for postoperative recurrence of chylothorax in dogs could be "invisible or sleeping" fine ducts that are collapsed and not visible in preoperative CTLG scans. After TDL causes a change in the pressure of lymphatic flow, these fine thoracic ducts may become apparent using postoperative CTLG.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33684240/