EXPRESS: Cannula Assisted Sternal Displacement for VATS-Assisted Correction of Pectus Excavatum in Three Cats

Case Series Summary Three skeletally immature cats were treated for Pectus Excavatum using a modified Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) assisted technique which involved using the thoracoscopic cannula to intraoperatively ventrally displace affected sternebrae thereby assisting the placement of circumsternal sutures whilst simultaneously protecting underlying viscera. All cases recovered well from their procedure and the described technique was successful in allowing good radiographic improvement of Pectus Excavatum in all cases. No intraoperative complications were encountered and all cases were judged to have an excellent outcome. Relevance and Novel Information Routine VATS-assisted correction of Pectus Excavatum is possible in cats but may not confer any obvious advantage over traditional “blind” placement of sutures due to the difficulty in visualising the target sternebrae during surgery. The modification described here in which the sternum is pushed ventrally makes subsequent placement of percutaneous sutures easier whilst simultaneously reducing the risk of viscus penetration and may therefore reduce the risks inherent in this procedure and has potential to be the treatment of choice for this condition.