Pneumothorax Secundaryto Accidental Electric Shockto a Dog
Authors: Da Silva Flores Fabiano , Vitória Hörbe Anna , Maciel Correa Marjane , Borges Vaz Bruna , Felipe Dutra Corrëa Luís 
Published: December 2024

Background: Pneumothoraxischaracterizedbytheaccumulationofairorgas in the pleural space. It isclassified as spontaneous, whichcanbeprimaryorsecondary, andacquired, whichcanoccurtraumaticallyoriatrogenically. Furthermore, it canbedefinedas openorclosedandhypertensiveorsimple. The clinicalmanifestationsinvolvedmainly include hypoxia, dyspneaandrespiratoryeffort, whichvarydependingonthedegreeofseverityofthepneumothorax, in additiontovomiting, anorexia andlethargy.
In more serious cases, immediateinterventionisrecommendedbydrainingfreeairintothethoraciccavitytostabilizethepatient, especially in theeventoftensionpneumothorax. Radiographyiscommonlyusedboth for thediagnosisofpneumothoraxand for follow-up afterdrainage, beinganeffective tool for evaluatingpossiblecontinuousleaks, in additiontoeliminatingunderlyinglungdiseases. Electric shockresultsfromthecontactofthe animal orpersonwith a sourceofenergy, in whichtheelectricityisconductedthroughthebodyandcan cause a series of injuries. The damageisdependentonthecurrent, voltage, heatgeneratedandthedurationoftheelectricalflow. Earlydiagnosis, followedbycorrectclinicaltreatment, increasesthepatient'srecoveryandsurvivalexpectations. Episodesinvolvingelectricshock in animalshavebeenreported in primates, in cattleand in dogs, while its associationwithpneumothoraxhasonlybeenreported in humans, with no reportsfound in theveterinaryliteratureregardingthisoccurrence in dogs. The presentreportaimstodescribethediagnosisandtreatmentof a case ofclosedpneumothoraxsecondarytoelectricshock in a dog.
Case: A two-year-oldfemaleGreyhounddogwastreatedatthe Santa Maria Veterinary Hospital, presentingdyspnea, anorexia, involuntarymusclecontractures, reportsofanepisodeofvomitingand a historyofanaccident in anelectricfenceapproximatelyone hour beforetheappointment. Onclinicalexamination, therectaltemperaturewas 39.1° C, tachypneic, 50 breaths per minute, 220 heartbeats per minute, andcardiacauscultationwasmuffled, andrespiratorysoundswerereduced, digital digitpercussiononboththoracicsideswith a muffledsound. 100% oxygentherapywasadopted via face mask, thoracentesis in theeighth intercostal spaceandcomplementaryimagingtestswerecarried out, such as radiography in twolaterolateralandventrodorsalprojections, bloodcollection for bloodcountandbiochemistry. In theanamnesis, the tutor reportedthatthepatientwasrunning in a cattlebreedingarea, wherehe came intocontactwiththelefthemithoraxregionon a fence, which, as confirmedbytheowner, wasenergizedwith a voltageof 11000 volts and 5 milliamps. Then, clinicaltreatmentwasinstituted, withcontinuedoxygentherapy, electrolytereplacement via intravenousRinger'slactate (5 ml/kg/hour), analgesia withmorphine 0.5 mg/kg, subcutaneously, andafterperformingtrichotomy for thoracentesis in theeighth intercostal space, in themost dorsal region, onbothantimeres, with a 21G scalpneedle, coupledto a three-wayvalveand a 20 ml syringeontherightandleftside.
Discussion:Thatthepatientrecoveredwithcertaintyfromtheelectricalaccidentaftertheapprovedclinicaltreatment.Theadoptionofemergency management appropriatetothe case, as well as anaccurateanamnesis, adequateclinicalandradiographicexamination, andtheimplementationofemergency procedures, such as thoracentesis, directlyinfluencedthesuccessfulresolutionofthereported case.