title: [Pyothorax in 26 cats: clinical signs, laboratory results and therapy (2000-2007)].
abstract: Common historical findings in 26 cats with pyothorax were dyspnea (85%), lethargy (65%), and anorexia (62%), common clinical findings were dyspnea (89%), tachypnea (73%), fever (39%), and hypothermia (27%). Frequent laboratory abnormalities were leukocytosis (68%) with a left shift (100%), anemia (65%), hypoalbuminemia (91%), hyperglobulinemia (86%), hyperbilirubinemia (60%) as well as azotemia (52%). The thoracic effusion was purulent in all cats, the thoracic fluid evaluation (n = 19) met the criteria for an inflammatory exudate (protein 32-63 g/l, median 44; cell count 54.4-390 x 10(9)/l, median 100). Cytological analysis revealed bacteria in 21 of 24 cats. From 16 cats 13 different genera were isolated, 5 cultures were without bacterial growth. In 12.5% of the cats a single population of bacteria was identified, and in 87.5% a mixture of 2-4 different bacterial species were cultured. Obligate anaerobic bacteria were the most common isolates (70%) followed by facultative anaerob (22.5%) and aerob growing (7.5%) bacteria. Bacterial culture most often yielded Fusobacteria spp., Prevotella spp., Pasteurella spp., Porphyromonas spp. and Bacteroides spp. Three cats were euthanized at the day of presentation. A thoracic lavage was performed in 22 cats; mechanical complications with the chest tubes occured in 4 cats. Thoracotomy was performed in 2 cats. Of the 23 treated cats 17 survived (74%).
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für kleine Haustiere, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Freie Universität Berlin.
authors.forename: Mareike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ottenjann
authors.forename: Antina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lübke-Becker
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Linzmann
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brunnberg
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kohn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000187:drug effects; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002415:Cats; D016724:Empyema, Pleural / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents