Total laryngectomy for management of chronic aspiration pneumonia in a myopathic dog

A 5-month-old female pit bull terrier dog evaluated for ataxia, progressive regurgitation, and recurrent aspiration pneumonia had markedly elevated creatine kinase activity, non-inflammatory generalized myopathy, and severe esophageal dysmotility. A narrow-field total laryngectomy was performed. The dog is doing well 30 months after surgery, and no longer has episodes of aspiration pneumonia, despite intermittent regurgitation. This case represents the first application of total laryngectomy for the prevention of chronic recurrent aspiration pneumonia in the dog.

One-lung ventilation using a wire-guided endobronchial blocker for thoracoscopic pericardial fenestration in a dog

Instead of a conventional double lumen tube, an Arndt wire-guided endobronchial blocker was used to achieve one-lung ventilation in a dog undergoing thoracoscopic pericardiectomy. Overall, lung separation was easy to perform and surgical conditions for the creation of a pericardial window were adequate. Special ventilation strategies were applied.

Splenic foreign body in a cat

An 8-year-old domestic shorthair cat was evaluated for a several day history of anorexia and vomiting. Abdominal distention was noted on physical examination and diagnostics including abdominal radiographs and abdominal ultrasound demonstrated the presence of free fluid in the peritoneal cavity. Septic peritonitis was diagnosed on cytologic evaluation of the peritoneal fluid. The cat was taken to surgery and a foreign body composed of plant material was found embedded within the spleen. A splenectomy was performed and both open and active peritoneal drainages were used to successfully treat this case.