Traumatic haemothorax in a dog managed without surgery using a guidewire-inserted chest tube and a single closed system for collection and administration of autotransfusion

A dog with multiple stab wounds to the chest presented with haemorrhagic shock and respiratory compromise secondary to traumatic haemothorax. A kit to rapidly evacuate the pleural space and subsequently administer autotransfusion was devised with readily available supplies. The dog was managed successfully with wire-inserted chest tubes and autotransfusion, did not proceed to surgery and had a rapid full recovery. The kit described creates a single closed collection and administration system for autotransfusion, is simple, inexpensive, made from readily available supplies and permits large volume effusions to be evacuated rapidly with fewer staff involved.