Management of open pneumothorax in a tiger (Panthera tigris)

摘要

Penetrating trauma to the thoracic wall produces an open pneumothorax (Christopher Orton, 1985). The present paper describes a case of open pneumothorax in a tigress. A tigress aged 3 yr weighing about 100 kg was injured by a tiger of Nandankanan Zoo.There were multiple lacerated wounds at different places on its body. The animal was observed to be in sitting posture and not moving in its enclosure. A sucking noise was heard from its thoracic region. The tigress was tranquilized with 100 mg of xylazine and 350 mg of ketamine hydrochloride through a pressure gun. The tigress became recumbent within 10 min. Then it was lifted to a transportation crate and shifted to Zoo Hospital. On examination it was found that an wound measuring 10 cm x 1 cm was present at its left 6th intercostal space. Hence an open pneumothorax was diagnosed due to the presence of a sucking wound. Swab samples were collected for antibiotic sensitivity test. The intercostal muscles were freshened and sutured in continuous fashion with chromic catgut No. 2 and skin with interrupted nylon suture. Negative pressure was re-established in the thoracic cavity by aspirating the air using a 3-way stop cock apparatus. DNS 5% was infused intravenously throughout the operation period. Parenteral ceftriaxone sodium 1 g b.i.d. was continued for 3 days. Then antibiotic was changed to ciprofloxacin according to sensitivity test results. The animal mutilated the sutured line on 8th post-operative day resulting in recurrence of the condition.The animal was again anaesthetized with 1.3 mg of atropine sulphate and 600 mg of ketamine hydrochloride. The wound was repaired using nylon suture dipped in dimethyl sulphoxide liquid after restraining the tigress in sitting posture in a squeeze cage. The negative pressure of thorax was re-established as in previous instance. Post-operatively the animal was kept in half squeeze cage for 7 days. The wound was dressed with ciprofloxacin liquid under mild sedation using 200 mg ketamine on alternate days.The animal recovered uneventfully.