Spontaneous pneumothorax caused by pulmonary blebs and bullae in 12 dogs

Abstract

Spontaneous pneumothorax caused by pulmonary blebs and bullae was diagnosed in 12 dogs based on history, clinical examination, thoracic radiographs, surgical findings, and histopathological examination of resected pulmonary lesions. Radiographic evidence of blebs or bullae was seen in only one dog. None of the dogs responded to conservative treatment with thoracocentesis or thoracostomy tube drainage. A median sternotomy approach was used to explore the thorax in all dogs. Pulmonary blebs and bullae were resected with partial or complete lung lobectomy. Ten of the dogs had more than one lesion, and seven of the dogs had bilateral lesions. The cranial lung lobes were most commonly affected. Histopathology results of the blebs and bullae were consistent in all dogs and resembled lesions found in humans with primary spontaneous pneumothorax. None of the dogs developed recurrence of pneumothorax. Median follow-up time was 19 months. The outcome following resection of the pulmonary blebs and bullae was excellent.