Thoracoscopic treatment of persistent right aortic arch in dogs with and without one lung ventilation.

Objective: To evaluate thoracoscopic treatment of persistent right aortic arch (PRAA) in dogs with and without the use of one lung ventilation (OLV).

Study design: Retrospective cohort study.

Animals: Twenty-two (client-owned and shelter) dogs diagnosed with PRAA.

Methods: Medical records were reviewed retrospectively and intraoperative and immediate postoperative data were compared between dogs that underwent thoracoscopic treatment of PRAA with (OLV+) and without (OLV-) OLV.

Results: Ten of the 12 dogs in the OLV+ group and 7/10 dogs in the OLV- group had their left ligamentum arteriosum successfully ligated during thoracoscopy. Median surgical time, surgery complications, anesthesia complications, and rate of conversion to an open thoracotomy due to limited visualization or surgical complications were similar between the two groups.

Conclusion: Thoracoscopic treatment of PRAA can be performed with or without OLV. Surgical time, intraoperative complications, and conversion rates were similar between dogs that underwent thoracoscopic treatment of PRAA with and without OLV. OLV may not have contributed to improved visualization in this group of dogs.

Clinical significance (or impact): The use of OLV is safe during thoracoscopic treatment of PRAA. OLV did not appear to provide significant benefits in this case series and thoracoscopic treatment of PRAA in dogs may be performed successfully with or without the use of OLV.