Therapeutic use of autologous blood patch pleurodesis for continuous pneumothorax in a feline pyothorax

Abstract

AbstractA continuous pneumothorax developed in a feline patient following placement of a thoracostomy tube in order to facilitate medical management of a pyothorax. Possible causes of the continuous pneumothorax include iatrogenic complications during tube placement, rupture of a possible pulmonary abscess, underlying neoplasia or concurrent inflammatory airway disease. The patient was placed on continuous suction with no improvement. Surgical exploration was declined. An autologous blood patch pleurodesis was performed which led to resolution of the continuous pneumothorax within four hours of therapy.