Hepatic emphysema associated with ultrasound-guided liver biopsy in a dog.
An eleven-year-old Chinese Crested Powder Puff dog presented with polydipsia/polyuria, inappetence, diarrhea and vomiting underwent an ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsy. Two days post-biopsy the clinical condition of the dog acutely deteriorated with fever, dyspnea, ataxia and subcutaneous emphysema. Radiographs and ultrasound showed focal severe hepatic emphysema in the region of the previous liver biopsy. Post-mortem examination revealed chronic hepatitis with dissecting fibrosis, acute hepatitis with hemorrhage and in the hindlimb musculature extensive hemorrhage and necrosis. Pure cultures of the gas producing bacteria Clostridium perfringens were isolated in samples from the hind limb musculature. We propose that the hepatic emphysema in the region of the biopsy site was a result of a clostridial infection.
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University Animal Hospital, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7040, Uppsala 75007, Sweden. frida.westgren@uds.slu.se.
Frida
F
Westgren
Tove
T
Hjorth
Margareta
M
Uhlhorn
Pernille E
PE
Etterlin
Charles J
CJ
Ley
D000818:Animals; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D001706:Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D004646:Emphysema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D014463:Ultrasonography