Papageorgiou V. DVM, MSc, PhD candidate, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Polizois G. DVM, MSc student, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Papazoglou L. DVM, PhD, MRCVS, Professor of Surgery, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Patsikas M. DVM, MD, PhD, Professor of Diagnostic Imaging Unit, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Kazakos G. DVM, PhD, Associate Professor of Surgery, Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Introduction
Pneumothorax is a common complication of diaphragmatic hernia repair which leads to poor prognosis. The aim of this case report is to present a case of pneumothorax in a dog after surgical correction of a chronic diaphragmatic hernia.
Clinical case
A 7-year-old, cross breed intact male dog presented with mild dyspnea and increased hepatic enzymes. A chronic diaphragmatic hernia was diagnosed after radiographic examination and was surgically repaired by repositioning the stomach and liver in the abdomen and suturing the ruptured diaphragm. Postoperatively the dog developed mild dyspnea, with no tachypnea, orthopnea or labored breathing due to pneumothorax which was diagnosed by x rays and was resistant to repeated thoracocentesis (when a total volume of 3 liters of air was removed) and blood pleurodesis. However, PO2 measured by arterial blood tests, remained above 70 mmHg and SPO2 94%. Oxygen hood was used for oxygen therapy and PO2 increased to 83 mmHg and SPO2 to 97%. The dog’s arterial blood results and clinical presentation were improving during its’ 7 day hospitalization, even though pneumothorax was still present radiographically and no thoracocentesis was performed after the second postoperative day.
On the seventh day, oxygen hood was removed and arterial blood test revealed PO2 of 96 mmHg even though pneumothorax persisted and the patient was discharged. One month later, the dog was still healthy and radiographic examination revealed absence of pneumothorax.
Conclusions
This is the first report of pneumothorax that did not severely affect the dog’s physical condition and oxygenation thus, was left to spontaneously reabsorb.
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