2026-04-18T00:15:51Zhttps://recercat.cat/oai/request

oai:recercat.cat:20.500.12327/27242025-10-22T11:31:00Zcom_2072_4428com_2072_4427col_2072_487898

00925njm 22002777a 4500 dc Martino, Laura author Crespo-Picazo, José Luís author García-Parraga, Daniel author Alomar, Jaume author Serrano, Bárbara author Cobos, Alex author Pérez-Rodriguez, Maria Dolores author Frau, María author Espada, Yvonne author Abarca, Maria Lourdes author Escaño, Paula author Domingo, Mariano author 2023-08-03 Pneumothorax, the accumulation of air in the pleural cavity, occurs when air enters the pleural space by the pleuro-cutaneous, pleuro-pulmonary, or pleuro-oesophageal-mediastinal route. Tension pneumothorax is an infrequent and severe form of pneumothorax where a positive pressure in the pleural space is built up during at least part of the respiratory cycle, with compression of both lungs and mediastinal vessels, and, if unilateral, with midline deviation towards the unaffected hemithorax. We describe 9 cases of tension pneumothorax in 3 species of small cetaceans (striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba, common dolphin Delphinus delphis, and common bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus) from the western Mediterranean coast of Spain, and one case from a dolphinarium. Computed tomography (CT) imaging performed in 2 carcasses before necropsy showed lung compression, midline deviation, and pressure on the diaphragm, which was caudally displaced. Tension pneumothorax was recognized at necropsy by the presence of pressurized air in one of the hemithoraces. Seven of the pneumothorax cases were spontaneous (2 primary and 5 secondary to previous lung pathology). In the other 2 dolphins, the pneumothorax was traumatic, due to oesophageal-pleural perforation or rib fractures. We hypothesize that pneumothorax in dolphins is predominantly tensional because of their specific anatomical and physiological adaptations to marine life and the obligate exposure to extreme pressure changes as diving mammals. Martino, Laura, José Luís Crespo-Picazo, Daniel García-Parraga, Jaume Alomar, Bárbara Serrano, Alex Cobos, and Maria Dolores Pérez-Rodriguez, et al. 2023. “Tension Pneumothorax in Small Odontocetes.” Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 155: 43-57. doi: 10.3354/dao03741. 0177-5103 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12327/2724 https://doi.org/10.3354/dao03741 Tension pneumothorax in small odontocetes