Tension pneumothorax

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Sections available in full article Introduction, Presenting signs, Special risks (e.g. anesthetic), Pathogenesis, Etiology, Pathophysiology, Timecourse (incubation, duration), Diagnosis, Presenting problems, Client history, Clinical signs, Diagnostic investigation, Confirmation of diagnosis, Differential diagnosis, Treatment, Initial symptomatic treatment, Standard treatment, Monitoring, Sequelae, Prognosis, Sources, Publications, Vetstream contributor(s),
Contributors Dr Serena Brownlie BVM&S PhD CertSAC MRCVS
Mr Andrew Gardiner BVM&S, Cert SAS, MSc, MRCVS
Dr Cheryl Hedlund DVM MS

Introduction

  • Cause : one-way valve effect created by damaged lung tissues.
  • Air enters pleural space during inspiration and is unable to return to the lung during expiration because the valve closes.
  • Diagnosis : clinical signs and radiography.
  • Treatment : immediate thoracocentesis and oxygen supplementation.
  • Once stabilized, the cause must be established and repaired or resected surgically.
  • Prognosis : rapidly fatal if untreated.

Diagnosis

Clinical signs

  • Severe, rapidly progressive dyspnea.
  • Restrictive respiratory pattern (rapid, shallow).
  • Cyanosis.
  • Barrel-shaped chest fixed in maximum extension.

Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis

  • Diaphragmatic hernia  Diaphragm: hernia  .
  • Pleural effusion  Pleural effusion  .
  • Right heart failure.
  • Neoplasia  Lung: pulmonary neoplasia  .
  • Hypoalbuminemia.
  • Consolidated lung lobe.

Sequelae

Prognosis

  • Rapidly fatal, if untreated.

Sources

Publications

Refereed papers

  • Fossum T Wet al(1993)Eosinophilic pleural or peritoneal effusions in dogs and cats - 14 cases (1986-1992).JAVMA202(11), 1873-1876.

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