Use of a pleural access port for at‐home management of recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax in a dog

Abstract An 8‐year‐old, male, neutered German shepherd mix dog was diagnosed with a spontaneous pneumothorax. Initial treatment included a thoracocentesis. Four months later, a second spontaneous pneumothorax was diagnosed, and a right cranial lung lobectomy was performed. Three months later, a third spontaneous pneumothorax was diagnosed, and a partial lung lobectomy was performed. Five months following discharge, a fourth spontaneous pneumothorax was diagnosed and treated with a partial lung lobectomy. Six days following surgery, a fifth spontaneous pneumothorax recurred. Medical management failed, and a pleural access port was placed. The pleural access port remained in place for 5 months; however, it required replacement following a resistant infection. The second pleural access port remains in place, more than 8 months following failed medical management for recurrent pneumothorax.