🔍 Key Findings
- Traumatic pulmonary pseudocysts (TPP) were diagnosed in 11 patients (9 dogs, 2 cats) using CT after blunt trauma.
- TPPs were identified on radiographs in 64% of cases that were CT-confirmed, highlighting the superior sensitivity of CT.
- Most cases (7/10) were managed conservatively, with complete recovery and no TPP-related mortality.
- Thoracic surgery (lung lobectomy) was performed in 3 dogs, due to persistent pneumothorax or large TPP with perceived risk of complications.
- All pneumothorax cases were managed with thoracostomy tubes, and chest drains were used in 73% of cases.
- Pneumothorax was present in 100% of patients, often bilateral, and pulmonary contusions were reported in 73%.
- One cat was euthanized due to unrelated maxillofacial trauma; no deaths were attributed to TPP itself.
- Long-term follow-up (median 768 days) revealed only 1 case with possible TPP-related pneumonia; others had no complications.
