Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 24
Influence of Abdominal Surgery on Pulmonary
Atelectasis Formation in Dogs
F. Staffieri, V. DeMonte, C. DeMarzo, S. Grasso, and A. Crovace
Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of abdominal surgery
on atelectasis formation in healthy dogs. After the induction of general anesthesia
(GA), 20 dogs, scheduled for elective ovariohysterectomy, were positioned in
dorsal recumbency: 10 dogs underwent immediate surgery (S group), while
10 dogs (NS group) were maintained under anesthesia for 60 min before surgery.
In both groups, a helical computed tomography (CT) scan of the thorax and an
arterial blood gas analysis were performed 60 min after the induction of GA. Lung
aeration was estimated by analyzing the radiographic attenuation of the CT images.
The atelectasic and poorly aerated lung compartments were significantly larger, and
the normally aerated lung compartment was smaller in the S group compared to the
NS group. The PaO
2
was similar in both groups. Abdominal surgery significantly
increases pulmonary atelectasis in healthy dogs under GA.
Keywords Dog • General anesthesia • Pulmonary atelectasis • Surgery
24.1
Introduction
Pulmonary atelectasis is one of the major factors responsible for the derangement of
gas exchange during general anesthesia (Duggan and Kavanag
2005
). The
mechanisms responsible for pulmonary atelectasis formation during general anes-
thesia are (1) compression of the pulmonary parenchyma (compression atelectasis),
(2) absorption of the alveolar gas (absorption atelectasis), and (3) alteration of the
surfactant function (Duggan and Kavanag
2005
). All these factors contribute
simultaneously and independently to the formation of atelectasis. Abdominal
F. Staffieri (
*
) • V. DeMonte • C. DeMarzo • S. Grasso • A. Crovace
Dipartimento delle Emergenze and dei Trapianti d'Organo, Sezione di Anestesia e Terapia
Intensiva, Universit` degli Studi di Bari, Valenzano, Bari, Italy
e-mail:
francescostaff@libero.it
