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

Abstract

Summary The objective of this study was to assess the eti ology, diagnosis, treatment methods, surgical findi ngs, postoperative results and necropsy findings of seve nteen cases of thoracic trauma by evaluating medica l records. A car accident, falling down, stabbing and bites were identified as the causes of trauma. Dia gnosed pathologies in the cases included pneumothorax, hemothorax, pulmonary contusion, lung lobe collapse or eventration, rib fractures, etc. The treatment meth ods employed in these cases were medical therapy, thoracocentesis, tube thoracostomy, lateral interco stal thoracotomy, median sternotomy and thoracic wall revisions. Atelectasis, rupture, laceration or cont usion of the lung lobes, pulmonary artery rupture, rib fracture and etc. were the surgical findings. Overa ll, seven dogs and four cats recovered completely. Two dogs were euthanized due to other pathologies inclu ding 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 an d managed with the necessary emergency and surgical procedures.