This lecture will discuss the anesthetic management of small animal patients undergoing thoracic procedures involving thoracotomy. The anesthetist's approach will vary greatly depending on whether the abnormality is cardiac or pulmonary in origin. An understanding of the pathophysiologic changes seen in common cardiac and pulmonary diseases is imperative to optimize anesthetic management and respond to complications as they arise. Additionally, analgesic techniques will be discussed for both lateral thoracotomy and median sternotomy.
