Acute Traumatic Intracranial Haemorrhage in Dogs and Cats

Abstract

SummaryTwenty-three records of dogs and cats having experienced severe craniocerebral trauma were reviewed. Case selection was restricted to those patients whose brains were examined at necropsy and/or surgery. Records of 14 dogs and nine cats were evaluated for the presence or absence of intracranial haemorrhage. The majority of patients were victims of automobile trauma (n = 16), the remainder being victims of household accidents (n = 4), malicious human behavior (n = 2), and injury inflicted by another animal (n = 1). Six of the 23 (27%) were conscious upon admission. One patient was unconscious upon admission, but regained consciousness following medical therapy. Evidence of intracranial haemorrhage was found in 100% (14/14) of the canine and 89% (8/9) of the feline cases. Four dogs and four cats exhibited two forms of intracranial haemorrhage. One cat exhibited three forms of intracranial haemorrhage. The distribution of intracranial haemorrhage was as follows: two epidural, 10 subdural, 10 subarachnoid and 10 intraparenchymal. Histopathology was available for 10 of the 23 cases. Surgical confirmation of the subdural haematomas, as typical subdural haematomas (focal intradural mass lesions), was available for four cases. Gross pathology of one other of the 10 subdural hematomas described a focal, 2 × 3 cm mass lesion. The remaining five subdural haematomas were of a more diffuse nature (more typical of subarachnoid haemorrhage), but three of these five were described as massive accumulations of blood. Four patients underwent emergency craniotomy/craniectomy; two of these patients made rapid and full recoveries, one died on the operating table, and one was euthanatized at the operation because of uncontrollable brain swelling. Ninety-three percent of the canine and 75% of the feline cases had haemorrhagic lesions that would have been potentially accessible via a lateral craniotomy/craniectomy. The results of this investigation suggest that acute intracranial haemorrhage may be a relatively frequent occurrence, following severe brain injury in dogs and cats. Prospective studies are needed to better define the incidence, anatomical distribution, and potential clinical significance of acute traumatic intracranial haemorrhage in dogs and cats. Comparative aspects of acute traumatic intracranial haemorrhage in people and small animals (dogs and cats) are discussed.Twenty-three records of dogs (n = 14) and cats (n = 9) with severe craniocerebral trauma were evaluated for the presence or absence of intracranial haemorrhage. Evidence of intracranial haemorrhage was found in 96% (14 dogs, 8 cats) of the cases reviewed. Comparative aspects of acute traumatic intracranial haemorrhage in people and small animals (dogs and cats) are discussed.