Morbidity and Mortality Associated with Adrenalectomies
A retrospective study examined the records of forty-five client-owned dogs that underwent open adrenalectomy with cavotomy for resection of adrenal masses with tumor thrombus extending into the vena cava. Thirty-six of 45 masses were pheochromocytomas, 7 were adrenocortical carcinomas, and 2 were unknown type. Caval thrombus terminated prehepatically in 21 of 45 dogs and extended beyond the porta hepatis but terminated prediaphragmatically (intrahepatic prediaphragmatic location) in 15 dogs and thrombi extended postdiaphragmatically in 5 dogs. Thirty-four dogs were discharged from the hospital, and 11 dogs died or were euthanized prior to discharge. Median overall survival time for all 45 dogs was 547 days. Bodyweight, tumor type, and size and extent of caval thrombus did not affect survival to discharge, but postdiaphragmatic (rather than prediaphragmatic) thrombus termination was associated with a greater risk of death.
Read more by clicking on the link below: