50 Veterinary surgical operations 



It seldom ever permanently benefits the patient, because it 

 only influences an effect without benefiting the cause. The 

 original lesion, the primary abnormality, being still active, a 

 re-filling of the cavity is certain to occur sooner or later. 

 Often it refils rapidly and manifestly enfeebles a patient 

 whose general health previous to the operation was fairly 

 good. As a general rule it is more harmful than beneficial, 

 although occasionally it does prolong the days of an old, fav- 

 orite pet. 



Thoracocentesis. 



SYNONYM.— Paracentesis thoracis. 



DEFINITION. — Thoracocentesis is the aspiration of 

 fluids from the thoracic cavity with the trocar and canula. 



INDICATIONS.— The operation is indicated in any ac- 

 cumulation of liquids in the thorax, whose quantity is suf- 

 ficient to manifestly interfere with respiration. The exu- 

 date of serous, seropurulent or haemorrhagic pleuritis (in- 

 flammatory hydrothorax) or of dropsy of the thorax (true 

 hydrothorax) are the two conditions encountered in do- 

 mestic animals which call for an evacuation of the thoracic 

 cavity. The former is very frequent in solipeds, complicating 

 almost every case of pleurisy that does not promptly termi- 

 nate in resolution. It is especially common in broncho-pneu- 

 monia complicated with diffused pleurisy, but exists also as 

 a close sequel of plain, uncomplicated inflammations of the 

 pleura. 



Often in acute pleuro-pulmonary affections two, three or 

 four gallons of fluid will accumulate in a few days, and on the 

 eighth to the tenth days of the fatal cases the lungs are found 

 flooded. As these cases are usually fatal from the extensive 

 inflammation of the lungs, pleura and pericardium, the oper- 

 ation is of little service. The mere aspiration of the fluid 

 accumulated around the lungs has no perceptible effect on 

 any of the symptoms presented. The course of the disease 

 goes on unchecked and the cavity rapidly refils in spite of 

 everything if the patient survives long enough. In this con- 

 dition the practitioner is, however, justified in resorting to 

 the operation, if for no other purpose than that of demon- 

 strating the accuracy of his diagnosis. 



Inflammatory hydrothorax following in the wake of the 

 acute stage of pleuro-pulmonary inflammations which pass 

 into sub-acute and finally chronic stages, is the real indica- 

 tion for thoracocentesis in veterinary surgery. 



All of the domestic animals suffer from this complication 



