From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-10-29 14:24:00 UTC
Subject: Re: thoracic surgery
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Jen & Andre" <jen.andre@i...> wrote:
> I'm having an US done on Wednesday for my 8 year old with the pulm
effusion, possible enlarged heart, insulinoma...
> In lateral rads, her trachea has an obvious dorsal bend in it just
cranial to her heart. Some people (Doctors at my vet school) have
said that a bend in the trachea suggests neoplasia. That's what the
US is for, but my question is: are many ferret vets willing to do
surgery inside the thorax? It would seem like a pretty touchy
proceedure on such a small animal. What can you tell me about this?
>
Dear Jen - Most general practitioners will refer a thoracic case due
to the intricacies of anesthesia and the requirement for assisted
ventilation. When you open the thorax, the lungs collapse, and a
machine or a good tech needs to "breathe" for the animal. There is a
trick to closing the thorax as well, to make sure that the lungs stay
inflated, and post-operative followup is important to ensure that all
stray air is removed from the chest, so that the lungs do not
collapse as well.
We haven't even mentioned the small size of the ferret thorax and
difficulty working in there.
It can be done, but usually only at a specialty surgical clinic or
veterinary school. However, if it is a tumor, the chance of
recurrence is good due to the difficulty in complete excision. You
would have to think long and hard in pursuing this option in any 8-
year-old.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM