Premium
Thoracic empyema in the dog; a report of twenty‐two cases
Author(s) -
ROBERTSON SHEILAH A.,
STODDART MARGARET E.,
EVANS R. J.,
GASKELL C. J.,
GIBBS CHRISTINE
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
journal of small animal practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1748-5827
pISSN - 0022-4510
DOI - 10.1111/j.1748-5827.1983.tb00419.x
Subject(s) - medicine , empyema , thoracotomy , surgery , antibiotics , cannula , antibiotic therapy , pleural empyema , physical examination , anesthesia , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
ABSTRACT The clinical findings, diagnosis and treatment of 22 cases of canine empyema are reported. Relevant presenting signs were tachypnoea or dyspnoea with pyrexia of variable duration, usually with a history of transient response to antibiotic therapy. Diagnosis was made by radiographic demonstration of free pleural fluid followed by bacterial examination of thoracic aspirates. Treatment consisted of parenteral administration of antibiotics accompanied, in most cases, by removal of the exudate either by aspiration, drainage through an indwelling cannula or thoracotomy. Sixteen dogs recovered from the initial illness. Two of these were destroyed within four months as a result of recurrence and the remaining fourteen survived in good health for follow up periods between six months and seven years after treatment.