PULMONARY LOBECTOMY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PNEUMONIA IN DOGS - 59 CASES(1972-1994)

Objective-To evaluate the risk and efficacy of pulmonary lobectomy in dogs with pneumonia. Design-Retrospective study. Animals-59 dogs with pneumonia. Procedure-Review of medical records and telephone conversat ions, Results-54.2% of dogs had resolution of pneumonia after lobectom y, 20.3% died in the perioperative period, and 25.4% survived the peri operative period but pneumonia did not resolve. Pneumonia was caused b y bacteria (25 dogs), fungi (12), foreign bodies (8), parasites iii, v iruses (1), and allergies (1). In 11 dogs, the etiologic agent was not isolated, Bacterial or fungal pneumonias were significantly less like ly to resolve compared with foreign body pneumonia or when an etiologi c agent was not isolated. Perioperative mortality rate increased signi ficantly with an increase in number of pulmonary lobes removed. Compli cations during surgery significantly increased perioperative mortality rate. Surgical era (1972 to 1983 vs 1984 to 1994) was a significant p redictor of mortality, with the odds of dying in the perioperative per iod being 11 times greater between 1972 to 1983. The odds of failure t o resolve pneumonia was 3 times greater during 1972 to 1983. Clinical Implications-Number of pulmonary lobes removed and complications durin g surgery significantly affect perioperative mortality rate. Identific ation of etiologic agents may help in predicting dogs likely to resolv e pneumonia after surgery.