Lung lobe torsion in 35 dogs and 4 cats.

The purpose of this study was to assess survival to discharge of animals with surgical or postmortem confirmation of a lung lobe torsion (LLT) as well as to evaluate pre-operative effusion, lung lobe affected, and patient size as prognostic indicators. Medical records search identified 35 dogs and 4 cats with a confirmed diagnosis including 17 small-breed dogs, 18 large-breed dogs, 3 domestic shorthair cats, and 1 minskin cat. Lobes affected included right middle (n = 18), left cranial (n = 18), right cranial (n = 2), left caudal (n = 1), and accessory (n = 1). Two animals died before surgery; the remaining 37 animals underwent thoracotomy. All treated small-breed dogs and cats survived; 12/18 large-breed dogs survived, with an overall survival to discharge of 87%. Pre-operative pleural effusion and affected lung lobe did not affect survival to discharge in this population. Small dogs and cats with LLT appear to have an excellent survival to discharge following thoracotomy and the survival is good in larger dogs.

Torsion de lobe pulmonaire chez 35 chiens et 4 chats. Le but de cette étude est d'évaluer le taux de survie jusqu'à la sortie d'hôpital, chez des animaux ayant eu confirmation chirurgicale ou post-mortem de torsion de lobe pulmonaire (TLP), ainsi que d'évaluer la présence d'épanchement pleural, le lobe pulmonaire affecté et la taille des patients en tant que facteurs pronostics. Les dossiers médicaux de 35 chiens et 4 chats avec un diagnostic de TLP confirmé furent identifiés, comprenant 17 chiens de petite race, 18 chiens de grande race, 3 chats Européens et 1 Minskin. Les lobes pulmonaires affectés étaient le lobe moyen droit (n = 18), le lobe cranial gauche (n = 18), le lobe cranial droit (n = 2), le lobe caudal gauche (n = 1) et le lobe accessoire (n = 1). Deux animaux décédèrent avant chirurgie, et une thoracotomie fut pratiquées chez les 37 animaux restant. Tous les chiens de petites races et les chats survécurent à leur chirurgie; 12/18 des chiens de grande race survécurent, et le taux de survie global était de 87 %. La présence d'épanchement pleural et le lobe pulmonaire affecté n'avaient pas d'influence sur la probabilité de survie dans cette population. Le taux de survie au congé hospitalier semble excellent chez les chiens de petite taille et les chats diagnostiqués avec une torsion de lobe pulmonaire et il est bon pour les chiens de grande taille.(Traduit par les auteurs).

The effect of inhaled heliox on peak flow rates in normal and brachycephalic dogs.

BACKGROUND: Heliox, a mixture of helium and oxygen, alleviates airway obstruction in people and improves air flow, and its use has been proposed in dogs. Brachycephalic dogs have naturally occurring airway obstruction where heliox might be a useful therapeutic option. OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to (1) determine the impact of breathing heliox on peak inspiratory and expiratory flows (PIF/PEF) in healthy dogs and (2) determine if brachycephalic dogs and mesocephalic dogs have similar responses to inhaled heliox. ANIMALS: Eleven healthy dogs: 5 mesocephalic and 6 brachycephalic dogs. METHODS: A prospective study. Tidal breathing flow-volume loops were recorded when dogs were breathing room air (nitrogen-oxygen) and heliox. Peak inspiratory and expiratory flow rates were recorded and the subjective shape of loops assessed. Peak inspiratory and expiratory flows pre- and post-heliox were compared using a Mann-Whitney Rank sum test with a P-value of <.05 considered significant. RESULTS: In inhaled heliox, PIF and PEF were evaluated by tidal breathing flow-volume loops. In mesocephalic dogs, PIF increased from a median of 820 mL/s (range, 494-1010 mL/s) to 1386 mL/s; P = .02; and for PEF from 688 mL/s to 1793 mL/s (P = .04), whereas in brachycephalic dogs, the median PIF increased from 282 mL/s to 694 mL/s; P = .01 and the median PEF increased from 212 mL/s to 517 mL/sec; P = .03. Brachycephalic dogs showed normalization of loop shapes. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Heliox improves flow rate and appears to improve flow patterns in brachycephalic dogs.