Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
CERVICAL OESOPHAGOTOMY IN A CAT FOR FOREIGN BODY REMOVAL - CASE REPORT
- Journal:
- Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment
- Year:
- 2021
- Authors:
- Alexandra NEAMȚU et al.
- Affiliation:
- Iasi University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 3 Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700490 Iasi, Romania · RO
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 4-year-old female cat was brought to the clinic because she was having trouble breathing, difficulty swallowing, and was vomiting. The veterinarian suspected she had something stuck in her esophagus (the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach), which was later confirmed with X-rays. Since the object was too large and awkwardly shaped to be removed with a scope, the vet performed surgery to take it out through the neck. They had to break the object into two pieces to avoid hurting the esophagus during removal. Thankfully, the cat had no complications after the surgery and went home a week later, showing that quick diagnosis and treatment are important for recovery.
Abstract
Oesophageal foreign bodies are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in small animals, especially in carnivores. Due to the possibility of complications such as perforation or tracheal compression, the patient may present an upper airway obstruction, which might become a medical emergency. Here, we describe a rare case of a large cervical foreign object in a cat and review the diagnostic and therapeutic approach of this condition. A 4-year-old female cat was referred to our clinic with signs of dyspnoea, dysphagia and regurgitation. The history and clinical exam suggested an oesophageal foreign body, subsequently radiographically confirmed. Because its shape and position did not allow endoscopic extraction, the foreign body was removed via ventral cervical oesophagostomy. Due to its location and large size, it was necessary to fragment the foreign body into two pieces for complete extraction without injuring the oesophageal walls. The patient had no postoperative complications and was discharged 7 days after surgery. In this condition, an early diagnosis, followed by an immediate surgical repair and a rigorous postoperative care, correlates with patient recovery and survival, being crucial in reducing the high morbidity and mortality rates that are usually associated.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.46909/journalalse-2021-012