Evaluation of thoracic trauma in dogs and cats: a review of seventeen cases

Document Type : Full paper (Original article)

Authors

1 Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey

2 Department of Thoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey

3 Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, JustusLiebig University, Giessen, Germany

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the etiology, diagnosis, treatment methods, surgical findings,
postoperative results and necropsy findings of seventeencases of thoracic traumaby evaluating medical
records. A car accident, falling down, stabbing and bites were identified asthe causes of trauma. Diagnosed
pathologies in the cases included pneumothorax, hemothorax, pulmonary contusion, lung lobe collapse or
eventration, rib fractures, etc. The treatment methods employed in these cases were medical therapy,
thoracocentesis, tube thoracostomy, lateral intercostal thoracotomy, median sternotomy and thoracic wall
revisions. Atelectasis, rupture, laceration or contusion of the lung lobes, pulmonary artery rupture, rib
fracture and etc. were the surgical findings. Overall,seven dogs and four cats recovered completely. Two
dogs were euthanized due to other pathologies including multisegmental lumbar fracture, paraplegia and
postpneumonectomy syndrome. Three dogs and a cat died during treatment management. The necropsies
revealed that the animals had pulmonary artery and tracheobronchial ruptures. The cat also had sudden onset cardiac arrest during surgery. In conclusion, cases with thoracic trauma should be assessed closely and
managed with the necessary emergency and surgical procedures.

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