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.
Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, EarlyView.Wiley: Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care: Table of Contents