Trauma-Associated Pulmonary Laceration in Dogs-A Cross Sectional Study of 364 Dogs.

Giovanna Bertolini,Marco Caldin,Arianna Costa,Chiara Briola,Paola Rocchi,Luca Angeloni

doi:10.3390/vetsci7020041

Abstract

In this study, we describe the computed tomography (CT) features of pulmonary laceration in a study population, which included 364 client-owned dogs that underwent CT examination for thoracic trauma, and compared the characteristics and outcomes of dogs with and without CT evidence of pulmonary laceration. Lung laceration occurred in 46/364 dogs with thoracic trauma (prevalence 12.6%). Dogs with lung laceration were significantly younger than dogs in the control group (median 42 months (interquartile range (IQR) 52.3) and 62 months (IQR 86.1), respectively; p = 0.02). Dogs with lung laceration were significantly heavier than dogs without laceration (median 20.8 kg (IQR 23.3) and median 8.7 kg (IQR 12.4 kg), respectively p < 0.0001). When comparing groups of dogs with thoracic trauma with and without lung laceration, the frequency of high-energy motor vehicle accident trauma was more elevated in dogs with lung laceration than in the control group. No significant differences were observed between groups regarding tge frequency and length of hospitalization and 30-day mortality. Similar to the human classification scheme, four CT patterns are described in dogs in this study: Type 1, large pulmonary laceration located deeply in the pulmonary parenchyma or around an interlobar fissure; Type 2, laceration occurring in the paraspinal lung parenchyma, not associated with vertebral fracture; Type 3, subpleural lung laceration intimately associated with an adjacent rib or vertebral fracture; Type 4, subpleural lesions not associated with rib fractures. Complications were seen in 2/46 dogs and included lung abscess and collapse.

Highlights

Injuries to the thorax are common in trauma patients and can affect any one or all components of the thoracic wall and thoracic cavity
Similar to the human classification scheme, four computed tomography (CT) patterns are described in dogs in this study: Type 1, large pulmonary laceration located deeply in the pulmonary parenchyma or around an interlobar fissure; Type 2, laceration occurring in the paraspinal lung parenchyma, not associated with vertebral fracture; Type 3, subpleural lung laceration intimately associated with an adjacent rib or vertebral fracture; Type 4, subpleural lesions not associated with rib fractures
Pulmonary contusion, implying traumatic injury to the alveoli and interstitium with alveolar hemorrhage and edema, but without significant alveolar disruption, is the most common injury of the lung parenchyma reported after blunt thoracic trauma in humans, as well as in small animals [4,5,6,7,8]

Summary

Introduction

Injuries to the thorax are common in trauma patients and can affect any one or all components of the thoracic wall and thoracic cavity. Thoracic blunt trauma is more common and its causes include being hit by a car, falling from a height, and physical injuries from animal–animal or human–animal interactions [1,2,3]. Pulmonary contusion, implying traumatic injury to the alveoli and interstitium with alveolar hemorrhage and edema, but without significant alveolar disruption, is the most common injury of the lung parenchyma reported after blunt thoracic trauma in humans, as well as in small animals [4,5,6,7,8]. Pulmonary laceration is a tear of the lung parenchyma due to higher-energy blunt trauma than contusion and leads to a mechanical shear or puncture, disrupting the lung parenchyma.

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