Thoracoscopic splint placement reported for pectus excavatum in kittens

A new Journal of Small Animal Practice case series describes video-assisted thoracoscopic placement of external sternal splints in six kittens with pectus excavatum, a congenital chest wall deformity that can compromise cardiopulmonary function in more severe cases. According to the abstract, the technique allowed surgeons to place the splints under thoracoscopic visualization and achieved successful sternal correction while reducing intraoperative risk. That’s notable because traditional external splinting in kittens typically relies on circumsternal suture placement performed without direct intrathoracic visualization, which carries recognized risks including lung or heart puncture, pneumothorax, and other complications. (cliniciansbrief.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this report adds early clinical evidence for a minimally invasive refinement of a familiar feline pectus excavatum repair strategy. External splinting is already an established option for young kittens with pliable sternebrae, often those under about 4 months of age, and prior reports have shown good medium-term outcomes in selected cases. The potential advantage here is not a wholly new concept of correction, but a safer way to execute it: thoracoscopic guidance may help surgeons avoid intrathoracic injury during suture passage in very small patients, where working space is limited and blind placement can be high stakes. Recent feline reports have also pointed to growing interest in VATS-assisted approaches for pectus repair, even as authors note the technique can be technically challenging in juvenile cats. (cliniciansbrief.com)

What to watch: Watch for the full paper’s operative details, complication data, follow-up duration, and whether this approach proves reproducible outside referral and specialty surgery settings. (journals.sagepub.com)