Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog developed collapsed lung after surgery to fix liver blood vessel
By Lee, Ting-Hsuan et al.·Published in Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia·2025·National Taiwan University Veterinary Teaching Hospital·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Pneumothorax in a dog after surgical attenuation of portosystemic shunt.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old Maltese dog developed breathing problems after surgery to correct a liver blood vessel issue. During the procedure, the dog showed signs of rapid breathing and low oxygen levels, which led to a diagnosis of pneumothorax (air in the chest cavity). The vet performed a needle procedure to remove the air, and the dog recovered well, staying in the hospital for four days before going home. The issue was likely caused by a tear in the diaphragm during surgery, highlighting the need for careful monitoring during such procedures.
People also search for: dog breathing problems after surgery · Maltese pneumothorax treatment · dog recovery from surgery complications
Abstract
A 2-year-old, 2.6 kg, intact male Maltese dog was anaesthetized for the surgical attenuation of an extrahepatic portosystemic shunt. The anaesthesia protocol consisted of dexmedetomidine, fentanyl, propofol, and isoflurane. Near the end of the surgery, acute changes in respiration, including an increased respiratory rate, hypoventilation, and fluctuating oxygen saturation of arterial haemoglobin measured by pulse oximetry, were observed. Thoracic radiography confirmed pneumothorax with earlier diagnosis confounded by uncertainty over interpretation of clinical signs, not considering the possibility of a diaphragmatic tear associated with cranial abdominal surgery, and limited experience with thoracic ultrasound. Following needle thoracocentesis, the dog recovered uneventfully and was discharged from the hospital 4 days postoperatively. The suspected cause of the pneumothorax was a diaphragmatic tear during dissection to better visualize the shunt vessel. Morbidity and mortality rounds were held and inadequate communication and trainee supervision were identified as contributing factors. This case report discusses the potential aetiology of perioperative pneumothorax and aims to raise awareness among surgeons and anaesthetists regarding the risk of pneumothorax during portosystemic shunt attenuation.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39986924/