Incidence of acute lung injury in dogs receiving transfusions.

OBJECTIVE

To document the existence and incidence of acute lung injury (ie, veterinary acute lung injury [VetALI] per the 2007 consensus definition) in a population of client-owned dogs receiving transfusions for various clinical reasons.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

ANIMALS

54 client-owned dogs.

PROCEDURES

Arterial blood gas analysis was performed for dogs receiving a transfusion (blood and plasma products) at 0 to 12 hours before and 24 to 48 hours after transfusion; dogs also underwent thoracic radiography 0 to 24 hours before and 24 to 48 hours after transfusion. The ratio of PaO2 to fraction of inspired oxygen (FIO2) was calculated. Dogs with posttransfusion radiographic signs of pulmonary infiltrates, a PaO2:FIO2 ratio < 300, or clinical signs of respiratory compromise were suspected of having VetALI and underwent echocardiography to exclude left-sided heart failure. The incidence of VetALI was calculated, and χ(2) tests were used to compare the incidence in study dogs with the historical reported incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in ill dogs (not receiving transfusions) and transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) in humans.

RESULTS

The incidence of VetALI (2/54 [3.7%]; 95% confidence interval, 0% to 8.73%) in study dogs was significantly less than the reported incidence of TRALI in humans (25%) and not significantly different from the reported incidence of ARDS in ill dogs (10%).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

VetALI occurred in dogs that received transfusions at a frequency similar to that previously reported for ARDS in ill dogs that did not receive transfusions.