Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Pulmonary contusion size on CT linked to survival in dogs with chest
By Álvarez-Punzano, Alicia et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2026·Veterinary Teaching Hospital Universidad Cató, Spain·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Retrospective Evaluation of the Association of Pulmonary Contusion Volume as Assessed by Computed Tomography With Mortality and Provision of Mechanical Ventilation in Traumatized Dogs (2019-2023): 27 Cases.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 27 dogs with chest injuries were evaluated for lung damage using a CT scan, which showed varying levels of pulmonary contusions (bruising of the lungs). The results indicated that dogs with more severe lung damage had a higher chance of not surviving or needing mechanical ventilation to help them breathe. Specifically, dogs that did not survive had an average of nearly 50% lung damage, while those that recovered had only about 6%. This study highlights the importance of assessing lung injury in dogs with chest trauma to predict their chances of recovery.
People also search for: dog chest injury treatment · pulmonary contusion in dogs · dog breathing problems after trauma
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between the percentage of pulmonary contusion volume (PPCV) found on computed tomography (CT) and survival to discharge or implementation of mechanical ventilation (MV) in a cohort of dogs with thoracic trauma. DESIGN: Retrospective multicenter study (March 2019 to April 2023). SETTING: Two veterinary teaching hospitals and one diagnostic imaging telemedicine service. ANIMALS: Twenty-seven client-owned dogs with thoracic trauma and CT findings compatible with pulmonary contusions. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Medical records were retrospectively searched for dogs with thoracic trauma and CT findings compatible with pulmonary contusions. Demographic parameters, PPCV, presence of pneumothorax or pleural effusion, number of fractured ribs, provision of MV, and outcome were recorded. CT studies were reviewed, and PPCV was calculated using commercial software following a standardized protocol. Nonsurvivors had a higher PPCV (median, 49.6% [range, 4.2-81.3]) than survivors (median, 6.5% [range, 0.1-52.9]; p = 0.005). Dogs that received MV also had a higher PPCV (median, 41.4% [range, 4.2-81.3]) compared with dogs that did not (median, 7.5% [range, 0.1-66.7]; p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: In this population of dogs with thoracic trauma, nonsurvivors and dogs that received MV had a higher PPCV, as evidenced by CT.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41615781/