Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Orbital swelling and breathing trouble after eye removal in Japanese
By Gornik, Kara R et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2015·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Orbital and Subcutaneous Emphysema Following Enucleation and Respiratory Distress in a Japanese Chin.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old neutered male Japanese Chin was brought in for worsening swelling around his left eye and breathing problems. He had previously had that eye removed five years ago, and the owner noticed mild swelling since then. After examining him, the vet found a significant buildup of gas in the area around the eye, which was causing the swelling. They performed surgery to remove the gas and close the duct that was allowing air to accumulate. Eight weeks later, the swelling had not returned, and the dog was doing well.
People also search for: Japanese Chin eye swelling · dog breathing problems · enucleation complications · orbital swelling treatment in dogs
Abstract
A 7 yr old, neutered male Japanese chin presented to the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University (CSVMTU) for evaluation of chronic unilateral orbital swelling that worsened following an episode of respiratory distress. The left eye had been enucleated 5 yr previously. Intermittent mild-to-moderate left orbital swelling had been noted by the owner since the initial surgery. Examination demonstrated a moderate-to-severe, soft, fluctuant swelling involving the left orbit with erythema of the overlying skin. Crepitus was noted over the occipital tuberosity. Computed tomography revealed a large volume of gas involving the left orbit. The gas extended caudally within the subcutaneous tissues to both hemimandibles, dorsal to the cranium, and partially surrounded the cranial neck. The presence of a mucosa-lined, air-filled space with a patent nasolacrimal duct was noted on orbital exploration. The lining was removed and the duct closed. Histopathology confirmed the presence of an epithelial lining. No recurrence of the swelling was observed on examination 8 wk after surgery. This is the first report documenting acute worsening of orbital swelling following an episode of respiratory distress. This case highlights the importance of addressing the nasolacrimal duct while performing an enculeation in a brachycephalic dog.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26535462/