Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with small bowel blockage from congenital internal hernia
By Kang, Min-Hee et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2024·Department of Bio-Animal Health, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Case report: Small bowel obstruction secondary to congenital transmesenteric internal hernia in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
An 8-month-old male British Shorthair cat was brought to the vet because he was not eating and was vomiting. The vet found a mass in his abdomen and suspected a blockage, which was confirmed by X-rays and ultrasound showing issues with his small intestine. During surgery, the vet discovered a congenital defect causing the blockage and was able to fix it by removing the obstruction and repairing the affected area. After three days in recovery, the cat went home and was doing well.
People also search for: cat vomiting and not eating · cat abdominal mass treatment · small bowel obstruction in cats
Abstract
An 8-month-old castrated male British Shorthair cat presented with acute anorexia and vomiting. The overall clinical presentation included generalized depression. Physical examination revealed palpable abdominal mass, thus foreign body or intussusception was suspected. Abdominal radiographs showed segmental dilation of small intestine and ultrasonography revealed target lesion with dilated small bowel loops and disrupted normal wall layering, suggestive of intussusception. Exploratory laparotomy confirmed congenital mesenteric defects associated with small intestinal obstruction. Surgical intervention involved dissection, ligation of encircling blood vessels, and closure of mesenteric defects. The cat was discharged after 3 days, exhibiting normal postoperative recovery. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of congenital mesenteric defect associated with small intestinal obstruction in a cat. While internal hernias are rare, it is essential to include them in the differential diagnosis for cases of intestinal obstruction, particularly in patients with no history of previous surgery or trauma. The potential for strangulation and ischemia in the affected loops elevates internal hernias to a critical, life-threatening condition, emphasizing the need for prompt recognition and urgent surgical intervention as an emergency.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38716231/