Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
English Bulldog puppy with breathing trouble from lung overinflation
By Regier, Penny J et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2021·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Successful Treatment of Congenital Lobar Emphysema in Multiple Lung Lobes in an English Bulldog Puppy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-month-old male English Bulldog was brought to the vet for severe breathing problems and difficulty catching his breath. X-rays and a CT scan showed that several parts of his lungs were overly inflated, leading to a diagnosis of congenital lobar emphysema, a condition where parts of the lung are abnormally enlarged. The puppy underwent surgery to remove the affected lung lobes, and after the operation, he recovered well. Three months later, follow-up scans showed that his remaining lung lobes had expanded properly, and he is now a year post-surgery, living normally without any breathing issues.
People also search for: English Bulldog puppy breathing problems · congenital lobar emphysema treatment · puppy lung surgery recovery
Abstract
A 5 mo old male intact English bulldog was evaluated at a veterinary referral hospital for acute respiratory distress and chronic difficulty breathing. Thoracic radiographs revealed multifocal pulmonary hyperinflation and hyperlucency suspected in the left caudal and accessory lung lobes. A thoracic computed tomography scan identified severe diffuse enlargement of the caudal subsegment of the left cranial lung lobe and the dorsal process of the accessory lung lobe, with parenchymal hypoattenuation, rounded margins, and thin pulmonary vessels. Based on clinical signs and imaging findings, he was diagnosed with suspect congenital lobar emphysema in multiple lung lobes. A median sternotomy was performed, which revealed a hyperinflated, emphysematous left cranial lung lobe (caudal subsegment) and accessory lung lobe for which two lung lobectomies were performed. The remaining lung lobes were small and atelectatic. Histopathology revealed bronchial cartilage hypoplasia and aplasia and findings consistent with congenital lobar emphysema. The puppy recovered well from surgical treatment of congenital lobar emphysema, requiring multiple lung lobectomies, with subsequent computed tomography-evidenced re-expansion of the remaining lung lobes 3 mo after surgery. The patient is still alive 1 yr after surgery with a normal activity level and no evidence of respiratory compromise.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33450005/