Comparison of the clinical, laboratory, radiologic and bronchoscopy results in dogs with pulmonary contusion

The aim of this study was to compare clinical, laboratory, bronchoscopic and radiological findings in dogs with pulmonary contusion (PK). The material of the study consisted of total 26 dogs with different breeds, ages and genders, who were diagnosed with PK. General examination, routine hematologic, blood gas analysis, radiological and bronchoscopic examinations under general anesthesia were performed. After bronchoscopy, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed for cytology. All findings were recorded. The patients were divided into two groups according to the radiological grading of PK: group 1 (n=16) (moderate) and group 2 (n=10) (severe). General examination, hematological values and blood gas analysis parameters of the cases in both groups were statistically analyzed by Mann Whitney U test for significance between the groups. Increasing of the pulsation and respiration rates, mucosal pallor, abnormal lung sounds; in the hematological examination, total increased leukocyte and neutrophil values, decreased hematocrit and platelet values; significant acidemia and hypoxemia was encountered in the blood gas analysis. Radiologically, 13 pneumothorax, 4 pleural effusions, 2 rib fractures, 1 lung atelectasis and 1 flail chest were diagnosed as well as alveolar and interstitial pattern appearance. Tracheo-bronchoscopy revealed 9 severe, 3 moderate and 7 mild bleeding, 3 pale and 8 hyperemic mucosa. Cytology showed increased neutrophils, spilled epithelial cells, erythrocytes, mucoprotein strands, macrophage cells, bacteria and hypocellular structure in different cases. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of general examination, routine hematological and blood gas analysis findings. As a result, the general examination, routine hematological and blood gas analysis, radiological examination and tracheo-bronchoscopy and BAL fluid cytology obtained in the present study were found to be important in the evaluation of the respiratory system of dogs with PK, and it would be considered that these findings contributed to both veterinary practice and academic studies.