ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Vet. Sci.
Sec. Veterinary Surgery
Surgical field Visualization and Feasibility of Accessory Lung Lobectomy using a pretied ligature loop via Single Incision Thoracoscopy in Canine Cadavers
Provisionally accepted
- Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
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Introduction: Thoracoscopic surgery is a widely accepted minimally invasive technique in veterinary medicine. However, its application in small dogs is limited by the narrow thoracic space, difficulty accessing midline structures, and the requirement for one-lung ventilation. To overcome these limitations, a single-incision subxiphoid approach with low-pressure CO₂ insufflation may offer improved visualization and access, but objective, quantitative evidence supporting its feasibility remains insufficient. Materials and Methods: Eight canine cadavers (6–10 kg) underwent subxiphoid single-port thoracoscopy under mechanical ventilation with non-insufflation and 3 mmHg CO₂ insufflation. Visualization quality was quantitatively evaluated using image analysis, and lung lobe accessibility was scored. The feasibility and safety of accessory lung lobectomy using a pretied ligature loop was assessed, including air leakage testing. Results: CO₂ insufflation at 3 mmHg group significantly enhanced thoracoscopic visualization compared to non-insufflation group, particularly by reducing visual obstruction from the left middle and right caudal lung lobes. All lung lobes were accessible through a single incision, though the accessory lung lobe was more difficult to approach (mean exploration score: 0.59). Accessory lung lobectomy using a pretied loop was successfully completed in all cadavers without evidence of air leakage, with an average procedure time of 921 seconds. Discussion: A single-incision subxiphoid thoracoscopic approach combined with low-pressure CO₂ insufflation significantly improves visualization and instrument maneuverability in small-breed canine cadavers. This method also enables complete lung lobe exploration and allows safe and effective accessory lung lobectomy using a pretied ligature loop.
Keywords: Thoracoscopy, subxiphoid approach, CO2 insufflation, Accessory lung lobectomy, Pretied ligature, Small dog
Received: 09 Aug 2025; Accepted: 03 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Kim, Lee and Heo. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Suyoung Heo, syheo@jbnu.ac.kr
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