title: Quantification and characterization of pleural fluid in healthy dogs with thoracostomy tubes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE To quantify and characterize pleural fluid collected from healthy dogs after placement of a thoracostomy tube (TT). ANIMALS 8 healthy Coonhound-cross dogs (mean ± SD weight, 27.2 ± 1.6 kg). PROCEDURES Thoracic CT of each dog was performed before placement of a TT and daily thereafter for 7 days. Thoracic fluid volume was calculated from CT images. Effusion was aspirated when detected; volume was recorded, and cytologic analysis and bacterial culture were performed. RESULTS Mean ± SD volume of pleural effusion detected by CT was 1.43 ± 0.59 mL/kg (range, 0.12 to 3.32 mL/kg). Mean volume collected via aspiration was 0.48 ± 0.84 mL/kg (range, 0 to 2.16 mL/kg). Cytologic analysis yielded results consistent with an exudate, characterized by septic suppurative inflammation in 6 dogs and mixed inflammation in 1 dog; there was insufficient volume for analysis in 1 dog. Sufficient volume was obtained for bacterial culture for 6 dogs, which yielded pure growths of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (n = 3) and Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (2) and mixed growth of both of these species (1). The TT was removed before day 7 in 4 dogs because of pyothorax (n = 3) and irreversible damage to the TT (1). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Presence of a TT induced a minimal volume of pleural effusion in healthy dogs. Pyothorax developed in most dogs between 4 and 6 days after TT placement. On the basis of these findings, a TT should be removed by the fourth day after placement, unless complications are detected sooner.
authors.forename: Germaine C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: M Casey
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Gaunt
authors.forename: Joseph E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: Gregory S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Starrak
authors.forename: Sherisse A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Sakals
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015505:Chest Tubes / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D012016:Reference Values