Implant of equine pericardiun in diaphragmatic lesions in dogs

Abstract

The objective of the present work was to use equine pericardiun preserved in glycerin as an implant to correct diaphragmatic lesions in adult mongrel dogs. After laparotomy, a 4 x 4 cm fragment of the muscular coat of the diaphragma was resected; afterwards the lesion was occluded by an implant of pericardium through a festoned suture using chromic catgut 3-0. The dogs did well during the post-operative period, with no signs of respiratory restriction. The animals (5/group) were sacrificed 7, 15, 30, 45
and 60 days post-surgery. At the autopsy, the findings of the diaphragma and surrounding tissues were noted and fragments were taken for histopathology. Grossly the implant occluded completely the induced lesion, was adhered to the liver and pericardium and decreased in size without interfering with the diaphragma elasticity. At the histology, there was an initial phase (day 7 and 15) characterized by an acute inflammatory response followed by a reparative process ending up with the appearance of newly formed fibrous membrane which totally replaced the former muscular coat. The present procedure seems to be an adequate
technique to repair diaphragmatic lesions in small animals. In addition, it employs a material which is non-expensive and easy to obtain, to keep and to apply.