Published in Scientific Works. Series C. Veterinary Medicine, Vol. LXXI, Issue 2
Written by Seralp UZUN, Jacqueline MOCANU, Dragoș-Marian DUMITRAȘCU, Iuliana IONAȘCU
Pneumothorax in cats is most commonly associated with thoracic trauma. However, increasing use of computed tomography (CT) has revealed a subset of affected cats with pulmonary bullae or blebs, traditionally linked to spontaneous pneumothorax. This raises important questions about the classification of pneumothorax in feline trauma cases. This retrospective study analysed 41 cats diagnosed with traumatic pneumothorax at the University Veterinary Emergency Hospital “Prof. Dr. Alin Bîrțoiu” between 2022 and 2024. Diagnostic workup included PoCUS, thoracentesis, CT, and necropsy. Data on trauma type, thoracentesis volume, imaging findings, surgical interventions, and outcomes were collected. Persistent or recurrent pneumothorax was documented in 17 cats, with CT or necropsy confirming bullous or bleb-related pathology in 11 cases. Six cats underwent emergency thoracic surgery (5 lobectomies via thoracotomy, 1 via sternotomy), with a postoperative survival rate of 83.3%. Pulmonary contusions were present in 85.3% of cats. Thoracentesis air extraction ranged from 15 mL to 600 mL per session (mean: 137 mL). Four additional cats required chest tube placement. All conservative cases received oxygen and opioid-based analgesia; NSAIDs were used selectively after cardiovascular stabilization. Four non-surgical deaths were linked to undiagnosed bullae or contusions. Findings support a reconceptualization of pneumothorax classification in cats. Trauma may not only rupture pre-existing bullae but also induce their formation. Early CT imaging and surgical intervention can significantly improve survival in refractory cases. The overlap between traumatic and spontaneous pneumothorax warrants a more nuanced diagnostic framework in feline thoracic trauma.
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