Tension pneumothorax in small odontocetes
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Author
Martino, Laura
Crespo-Picazo, José Luís
García-Parraga, Daniel
Alomar, Jaume
Serrano, Bárbara
Cobos, Alex
Pérez-Rodriguez, Maria Dolores
Frau, María
Espada, Yvonne
Abarca, Maria Lourdes
Escaño, Paula
Domingo, Mariano
Publication date
2023-08-03ISSN
0177-5103
Abstract
Pneumothorax, the accumulation of air in the pleural cavity, occurs when air enters
the pleural space by the pleuro-cutaneous, pleuro-pulmonary, or pleuro-oesophageal-mediastinal
route. Tension pneumothorax is an infrequent and severe form of pneumothorax where a positive
pressure in the pleural space is built up during at least part of the respiratory cycle, with compression of both lungs and mediastinal vessels, and, if unilateral, with midline deviation towards the
unaffected hemithorax. We describe 9 cases of tension pneumothorax in 3 species of small cetaceans (striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba, common dolphin Delphinus delphis, and common
bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus) from the western Mediterranean coast of Spain, and one
case from a dolphinarium. Computed tomography (CT) imaging performed in 2 carcasses before
necropsy showed lung compression, midline deviation, and pressure on the diaphragm, which
was caudally displaced. Tension pneumothorax was recognized at necropsy by the presence of
pressurized air in one of the hemithoraces. Seven of the pneumothorax cases were spontaneous
(2 primary and 5 secondary to previous lung pathology). In the other 2 dolphins, the pneumothorax was traumatic, due to oesophageal-pleural perforation or rib fractures. We hypothesize that
pneumothorax in dolphins is predominantly tensional because of their specific anatomical and
physiological adaptations to marine life and the obligate exposure to extreme pressure changes as
diving mammals.
Document Type
Article
Document version
Published version
Language
English
Subject (CDU)
619 - Veterinary science
Pages
15
Publisher
Inter Research
Is part of
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms
Citation
Martino, Laura, José Luís Crespo-Picazo, Daniel García-Parraga, Jaume Alomar, Bárbara Serrano, Alex Cobos, and Maria Dolores Pérez-Rodriguez, et al. 2023. “Tension Pneumothorax in Small Odontocetes.” Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 155: 43-57. doi: 10.3354/dao03741.
Program
Sanitat Animal
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- ARTICLES CIENTÍFICS [2555]
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