Related Experiment Videos
Use of omentum as a physiologic drain for treatment of chylothorax in a dog
1Small Animal Teaching Hospital, The University of Liverpool, UK.
Objectives:
To describe a novel technique for the surgical treatment of idiopathic chylothorax in a dog.
Animals:
A 6-year-old, male Rhodesian Ridgeback, which presented with a history of reduced exercise tolerance and dyspnea.
Methods:
Idiopathic chylothorax was diagnosed. Intermittent pleural drainage failed to resolve the problem. During surgery, extensive pleural fibrosis made it impossible to identify the thoracic duct. A dorsal omental pedicle was advanced through an incision in the diaphragm and into the cranial thoracic cavity to act as a physiological drain.
Results:
The dog recovered well and has remained free from clinical signs of recurrence of the effusion (16 months at the time of writing).
Conclusions:
The disease-free interval achieved in this dog indicates that this novel technique is worthy of further consideration in the management of idiopathic chylothorax.