Laparoscopic repair of peritoneopericardial hernias: Multicentric retrospective case series of 12 dogs and one cat.

Laparoscopic PPDH repair using low insufflation pressure is viable with high success rates.

This multicentric retrospective case series evaluates laparoscopic repair of peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernias (PPDH) in 12 dogs and one cat. Patients underwent minimally invasive repair using low-pressure CO2 insufflation (3-4 mmHg) at two specialist centers between October 2022 and November 2024. Surgical details including port numbers, insufflation pressure, suture techniques, use of thoracocentesis, and operative times were documented. Success was defined as complete laparoscopic repair without conversion to open surgery. One case required conversion to celiotomy due to CO2-induced pericardial tamponade. All 13 patients survived with no serious perioperative or postoperative complications at six-month follow-up. Full laparoscopic repair was successfully achieved in 92% (12/13) cases. This represents the largest case series reporting outcomes of laparoscopic PPDH repair in veterinary medicine, demonstrating that laparoscopic treatment is a viable surgical option for PPDH without increased complication risk compared to traditional open approaches. Low-pressure insufflation appears critical for safety in this cardiac-adjacent procedure.

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