Roumelioti S. DVM, ISVPS GpCert (US), ECVDI Resident, Alphavet, Athens, Greece | Papadopoulis P. DVM, ECVDI Resident, Alphavet, Athens, Greece | Vantsou V. DVM, Intern of Diagnostic Imaging, Alphavet, Athens, Greece | Chrysanthakopoulou F. DVM, Intern of Diagnostic Imaging, Alphavet, Athens, Greece | Panopoulos I. DVM, PhD, Dip. ECVDI, EBVS Specialist, Alphavet, Athens, Greece
Introduction
The aim of the study was to assess the contribution of pre- and post- contrast computed tomography of the thoracic cavity in patients with acute respiratory distress in early diagnosis and emergency clinical innervation.
A plethora of cases are referred for further investigation of this pathological condition. The option of computed tomography without chemical restrain in non-stabilized patients, is an enormous advantage of the new generation multi-slice computed tomographs.
Clinical cases
3 dogs were referred to our clinic with signs of acute tachypnea, depression, reluctance to move and or no presence of cough and/or haemoptysis. Median age of the patients is about 8 years and their mean weight at around 30 kilograms.
Results
Radiologic findings refer to different pathologic conditions, such as pneumothorax caused by pulmonary bulla rupture, pneumothorax caused by migratory foreign body and lung lobe torsion. Clinical signs that were described include: presence of free aerial effusion, pleural effusion, presence of migratory foreign body, partial bronchial incontinuity and mixed attenuation of the affected lobe.
Conclusions
Computed tomography is a reliable and painless diagnostic method of the thoracic cavity and it is a ''gold-standard'' examination in patients with acute respiratory distress.
