Looking for Medical Expert

[messica]

The pneumothorax led to Toby's death. I was not advised he had developed the pneumo until hours after his surgery (even though I spoke to the doctor twice and emailed him.) His blood pressure dropped, the doctor called me only then and he arrested while we were on the phone. This was unimaginable especially after I had asked if I could go see Toby after the surgery, and I was told I should not as it might excite him, and he was recovering nicely.
So when I got the call I insisted they try to save him. The doctor was asking me to let him go. Then he was resuscitated with open chest CPR, the doctor closed him up, his oxygen levels improved, and then he arrested again about an hour later.

I was told the shunt was not easy to get to and he may have nicked it to get to the shunt. The medical records, based on my read, point to this as well. But I want to have a second opinion to validate.

[kjc]

The only cut they make is the abdominal incision.... he may have cut too deep. The scapel should have been on the table while he used his fingers to navigate up to the liver. The Ameroid Constrictor is open when placed around the shunt, then squeezed shut.

Surgical Management

[yakkwak]

Originally Posted by pstinard

It can also happen from excessive air pressure during mechanical ventilation (maybe this was done during surgery to keep the puppy breathing?):

"Medical procedures, such as the insertion of a central venous catheter into one of the chest veins or the taking of biopsy samples from lung tissue, may lead to pneumothorax. The administration of positive pressure ventilation, either mechanical ventilation or non-invasive ventilation, can result in barotrauma (pressure-related injury) leading to a pneumothorax." (from Wikipedia article on pneumothorax)

Yes, a pneumothorax can happen this way during surgery (even to humans - believe me, I know first hand).

[cg18]

I went through this many years ago......I hope and pray you find answers.