Iatrogenic diaphragmatic rupture secondary to needle trocarisation in a 15‐week‐old puppy presenting with gastric dilatation

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Summary A 15‐week‐old, entire, male miniature dachshund presented to an after‐hours emergency clinic with an acute onset of non‐productive retching and abdominal discomfort. Initial investigations revealed a severe gastric dilatation, with no evidence of diaphragmatic compromise. Treatment at that point included emergency needle trocarisation via the left flank, and the patient was discharged. Ten days later, the dog re‐presented to the emergency department at a referral specialist centre with progressive lethargy, pain when being lifted and intermittent retching. Repeat radiographs revealed displacement of the abdominal viscera into the left hemithorax, through a diaphragmatic rupture. The patient was transferred to the surgical department for further investigations and treatment. Treatment involved surgical exploration, and a diaphragmatic defect was localised and repaired. The dog made an excellent clinical recovery without short‐term complications. To the authors’ knowledge, based on the medical history and the absence of prior trauma, this is the first case to describe a potential iatrogenic diaphragmatic rupture secondary to needle trocarisation in veterinary literature.