Evaluation of Short-term Outcome After Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Lung Lobectomy for Resection of Primary Lung Tumors in Medium to Large Breed Dogs

A video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) approach for lung lobectomy is a standard of care procedure for resection of many primary lung tumors in humans and has been described in a small number of canine patients.1

The aims of this study were to describe the clinicopathological features of dogs undergoing VATS lobectomy for resection of primary lung tumors and to compare short-term outcome of VATS lobectomy with open thoracotomy (OT).

Medium to large-breed dogs undergoing either VATS (n=22) or open thoracotomy (n=24) were included. A 3-port technique was used in 12 dogs and 4 ports were used in 10 dogs. One-lung ventilation was employed in all VATS cases. Tumor volumes were calculated from pre-operative computed tomography scans where available.

Two of 22 dogs (9%) were converted from a VATS to an OT approach. All dogs were discharged from the hospital. There was no significant difference between VATS and open lobectomy with regard to major complication rate, time to discharge, time in intensive care, or in completeness of resection. Surgery time was significantly longer for VATS lobectomy (median 120 minutes, range 70-170 minutes) than OT lobectomy (median 95 minutes, range 60-135 minutes).

VATS lobectomy has a low conversion and complication rate in medium to large breed dogs. Short-term morbidity of VATS lobectomy was comparable to OT for resection of primary lung tumors in dogs.