A small-bore wire-guided chest tube for the initial stabilisation of septic uroperitoneum in a dog

The purpose of this report was to describe the emergency management and subsequent surgical treatment of a 6-year-old, entire,male Epagneul Breton referred for septic uroperitoneum of 5 days duration. Clinical stabilisation was achieved by the insertion of a percutaneous small-bore wire-guided chest tube as an abdominal drain in association with conventional medical treatment. The small-bore wire-guided chest tube was inserted percutaneously into the abdomen, under ultrasound guidance, using a modified Seldinger technique. It was connected to a closed active collection system, and successfully drained the peritoneal urinary effusion. The medical treatment associated with the application of the small-bore wire-guided chest tube contributed to the patient’s stabilisation, which was reached within 5 hours from arrival, allowing for an exploratory laparotomy with repair of the bladder laceration. The small-bore wire-guided chest tube was replaced during surgery by a Jackson–Pratt drain, which remained in place for 4 days postoperatively. The dog has completely recovered, and no complicationswere recorded.