Meet Dudley

Meet gorgeous Dudley who was rushed to the hospital due to a very acute onset of difficulties breathing and cyanosis.

On initial assessment, a spontaneous pneumothorax (air accumulating around the lungs impeding the lungs to expand) was diagnosed. This is usually caused by a ruptured bulla or bleb in the lung, causing this to leak and subsequent air accumulation. Thoracic drains were promptly placed, but the amount of air was very large and Dudley required open thoracic surgery to stop the lung leakage. During surgery, with Diogo Miraldo, a ruptured bulla was promptly identified and that part of the lung was removed using a special surgical stapler.

Dudley recovered very well from this and was discharged from hospital 48 hours after the surgery, to live a full active and normal life.