Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Surgery to treat severe fibrous lung lining disease in a cat
By Sack, Danny et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2021·Animal Medical Center, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Decortication, thoracic omentalization, and pericardiectomy for treatment of severe fibrosing pleuritis in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat was brought in because she suddenly had trouble breathing and was breathing with her mouth open. X-rays and a CT scan showed fluid in her chest and severe pleuritis (inflammation of the lining around the lungs). The vet performed surgery to remove the thick fibrous tissue around her lungs and heart, and the cat stayed in the hospital for six days receiving oxygen and pain relief. After surgery, she needed medication and a special low-fat diet at home. Although she still had rapid breathing, follow-up visits showed her lungs were improving, and she was otherwise doing well without distress.
People also search for: cat breathing problems · cat pleuritis treatment · cat surgery recovery · cat chylothorax diet
Abstract
CASE DESCRIPTION: A 5-year-old spayed female domestic shorthair cat was evaluated because of an acute onset of dyspnea and open-mouthed breathing. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Thoracic radiography revealed pleural effusion and signs consistent with restrictive pleuritis, and results of preoperative CT were consistent with diffuse, severe restrictive pleuritis, bilateral pleural effusion, and pulmonary atelectasis. Thoracocentesis yielded a red, turbid fluid that was identified as chylous effusion with chronic inflammation. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: Exploratory thoracotomy revealed diffuse, severe fibrous adhesions between the mediastinum, heart, lung lobes, and thoracic wall, with a thick fibrous capsule enveloping all lung lobes. Surgical treatment consisted of complete pleural decortication, pericardiectomy, and thoracic omentalization. The cat remained hospitalized for 6 days, receiving oxygen supplementation, multimodal analgesia, and supportive care. Long-term home care consisted of prednisolone administration, rutin supplementation, and provision of a low-fat diet. At recheck examinations 3-, 7-, and 20-weeks postoperatively, the cat remained tachypneic, but was otherwise clinically normal without dyspnea or respiratory distress. Follow-up thoracic radiography revealed improved pulmonary expansion, decreased pleural effusion, and resolved pneumothorax. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Surgical management of fibrosing pleuritis secondary to idiopathic chylothorax in cats has historically resulted in poor outcomes. This report details the first successful use of complete decortication in the surgical management of severe fibrosing pleuritis in a cat.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34851851/