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Pericardioscopic imaging findings in cadaveric dogs: Comparison of an apical pericardial window and sub‐phrenic pericardectomy
Author(s) -
Skinner Owen T.,
Case J. Brad,
Ellison Gary W.,
Monnet Eric L.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
veterinary surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1532-950X
pISSN - 0161-3499
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-950x.2013.12074.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ventricle , cadaveric spasm , anatomy , apex (geometry) , pericardium , intercostal space , right atrium , right coronary artery , cadaver , cardiology , coronary angiography , myocardial infarction
Objective To compare the pericardioscopic cardiovascular anatomy visible between apical pericardial window (PW) and sub‐phrenic pericardectomy (SPP). Study Design Experimental study. Animals Canine cadavers (n = 5). Methods Thoracoscopy was performed using a transdiaphragmatic subxyphoid and right and left intercostal portals. A 4 cm × 4 cm apical PW was created with endoscopic scissors. The intra‐pericardiac structures were then pericardioscopically assessed using a subjective ordinal scale (0: not visible, 1: <50% seen, 2: >50% seen) before SPP. Assessment was repeated after SPP. Results An apical PW provided limited access to the cardiac structures, with only the right ventricle >50% visible in all cadavers. The right atrium, right auricle, left ventricle, right coronary artery, and interventricular paraconal branch of the left coronary artery were observed but were typically <50% visible after apical PW. The left atrium and auricle, and heart base could not be consistently seen through an apical PW. Sub‐phrenic pericardectomy significantly improved observation of all intrapericardiac structures assessed, except for the right atrium and right ventricle. Conclusions PW centered over the cardiac apex limits evaluation of the pericardial space during pericardioscopy compared to SPP in cadaveric dogs.