Background: The splenic torsion is a rare condition in dogs, especially when it is not associated with gastric dilatation and volvulus. Abdominal ultrasonography has been reported as an accurate diagnostic method in cases of splenic torsion suspicions. Splenomegaly, decreased echogenicity of the parenchyma of the spleen and hypoechoic appearance or “lace” are suggestive sonographic findings, although the definitive diagnosis is given through exploratory laparotomy. This study reports a case of splenic torsion followed by abdominal trauma and eventration in a dog, highlighting the importance of the ultrasound examination.Case: An adult dog without a defined breed pattern that weighed 8.6 kg was referred to the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Lavras (Universidade Federal de Lavras - UFLA) with a history of trauma caused by having been run over by a car 24 h earlier. The animal exhibited right inguinal region swelling with hematoma and a loss of local muscular tension. An abdominal ultrasound indicated that the spleen was displaced to the right inguinal region and that a portion of the spleen was included in the animal’s abdominal eventration. The spleen possessed an irregular surface with increased dimensions and diffusely decreased echogenicity and multiple parallel echogenic lines (in the reticular aspect). Abrupt differences in the echogenic textures of the spleen were identified in certain images. Color Doppler assessments revealed no blood flow. Based on the aforementioned ultrasound findings, an exploratory laparotomy was indicated. The laparotomy confirmed the presence of right inguinal abdominal muscle rupture with dislocation, eventration, and splenic torsion.Discussion: Splenic torsion may be most frequently reported in cases involving large and giant male dogs because this condition is typically related to dilatation syndrome and gastric volvulus, which are more prevalent among large and giant male dogs than among other dogs. Although these etiological factors should be considered, in the case examined in this study, the patient most likely suffered from splenic torsion caused by abdominal trauma, which resulted in the rupture of the gastrosplenic and splenocolic ligaments and the splenic vessels and thereby created circumstances conducive to splenic eventration and torsion. The sonographic features of splenic torsion in dogs include marked splenomegaly, a hypoechoic or diffuse anechogenic pattern that indicates the presence of vascular congestion, and sinusoidal dilatation separated by small linear echoes that represent dilated vessels. In cases of splenic torsion, two-dimensional ultrasonographic images may reveal an enlarged spleen with a hypoechoic echotexture and a hyperechoic triangle between the veins and the splenic parenchyma continuous to the hyperechoic mesentery. The sonographic findings observed in the patient examined in this study were similar to the findings described in the published literature and consistent with the results reported by the other authors. Although extensive literature reports have described the sonographic aspects of splenic torsion in dogs, this disease remains uncommon. Moreover, no prior reports have described splenic torsion secondary to concurrent abdominal trauma, displacement, and eventration; thus, the case examined in this study is unprecedented, and the ultrasonographic aspects observed in this case should be considered.
Background: Pyothorax is characterized by the accumulation of septic purulent fluid within the pleural space. Most of the times, it is the true identified infection way in only 2 to 22% of dog cases. Reports show that the most common cause is the migration of grass edges and plant materials, mainly in regions of California, USA. The current study reports an unusual case of a Cassia fistula pod (Brazilian Acácia Imperial), of around 10x3 cm long, causing chronic Pyothorax in a Border Collie female dog.Case: It was admitted in a Teaching Veterinary Hospital a 2-year-old female Border Collie, weighing 16.5 kg. The complaint was producing of severe cough, dyspnoea, hyporexia and loss of weight in the past three months. The animal could have been horse-kicked, as it is used to herding. In the physical examination, it was detected bilateral thick lung crepitations, more evident in the ventral skull area, dyspnoea, tachypnea, fever, splenomegaly and low body condition score (3/9). The laboratory tests revealed nonregenerative anemia and leukemoid reaction. The chest x-ray showed intense pulmonary opacification and free fluids in the pleural space along with a heterogenic cylindrical image of the mixed radiopacity. This image was then confirmed as the intrathoracic foreing body by the use of a computerized tomography. In this exam it was also possible to observe the damage of part of the middle and inferior right lung lobe. The cytology of the pleural effusion found mixed inflammation and coccoid bacteria, and the microbiological culture Streptococcus sp., and Escherichia coli. The dog underwent thoracotomy in order to remove the foreign body, which was later identified as being a Cassia fistula pod (Brazilian Acácia Imperial), of around 10x3 cm long. Due to the intense lung damage, a right pneumonectomy was required. After 30 days the animal was fully recovered.Discussion: The applied surgical procedure ended up being the most correct, due to the shape and place of the foreign body, and also due to the massive damage of the lobes on the right lung. In dogs, right pneumonectomy may cause respiratory acidosis and exercise intolerance, besides it can also show signs of hyperinflation in some pulmonary spots. However, such abnormalities were not perceived by the patient. There are a few reports concerning the right pneumonectomy applicability on veterinary routine, nevertheless, it is a perfect practicable intervention from the clinic-surgical perspective, according to this case’s reports. Initially, the possibility of a foreign body was not expected, once the history of a plausible trauma, caused by horse-kick, associated to the presence of thoracic effusion, influenced only to the Pyothorax’s etiology. But the continuity of the clinic condition and the cylindrical image in subsequent x-rays favored the suspect of an foreign body, which could be confirmed in the computerized tomography. However, the way the pod got into the animal’s thorax, adhering to the lung parenchyma, remained undetermined. Besides, there were not found clinic descriptions relating the Cassia fistula pod (Brazilian Acácia Imperial) as an etiological agent of intra-thoracic foreign body in dogs, making this report an unusual clinic case. The computerized tomography was primordial to the definite diagnostic and for choosing the type of surgical procedure to be applied. The right pneumonectomy associated to the removal of the foreign body promoted the success of the treatment without further post-operatory complications.
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