Large-bore thoracostomy tube placement in small animals

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Surgery
• Small Animal Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Thoracostomy tube placement is essential for managing pleural space diseases in small animals.
• Complications can arise from improper technique, impacting patient ventilation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a detailed technical tutorial on large-bore thoracostomy tube placement in small animals.
• To demonstrate the procedure using a veterinary simulation model for skill acquisition.

Main Methods:

• Step-by-step demonstration of large-bore thoracostomy tube placement.
• Includes subcutaneous tunnel creation, controlled pleural entry, drain advancement, and tube fixation.
• Utilizes blunt dissection and trocar-guided forceps for safety.

Main Results:

• A clear, step-by-step guide to thoracostomy tube placement is presented.
• Facilitates practice of critical procedural skills for accurate execution.
• Aims to minimize potential complications during the procedure.

Conclusions:

• Thoracostomy tube placement is a vital skill for small animal emergency and critical care veterinarians.
• Correct technique reduces risks of iatrogenic injury and ventilation compromise.
• Simulation models support safe hands-on training for this procedure.