Rusty is a greyhound who I performed a major thoracic wall resection surgery on last week.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/080d03_5e88e1f020e6407a81d995de7aa0e35e~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_46,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/080d03_5e88e1f020e6407a81d995de7aa0e35e~mv2.png)
Rusty's surgery, to remove a rib osteosarcoma, involved removing part of 3 ribs in a section of his thoracic wall (chest) that was centred directly over his heart. A latissimus dorsi muscle flap was utilised to rotate into the defect, and close over the heart (described nicely in the Liptak paper if anyone would like a copy) Using an autogenous muscle flap closure has lower complications than using mesh). This procedure went very well. He required a few days recovery in PetICU and developed greyhound vasculitis and limb oedema, however he is now home with his owners and is starting chemo.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/080d03_59e68619d24e40eb88a3b809cd7f97a3~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_49,h_47,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/080d03_59e68619d24e40eb88a3b809cd7f97a3~mv2.png)
He won all our hearts over during his stay.