Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Esophageal narrowing from right aortic arch in two cats
By Mackus, Lena et al.·Published in Tierarztliche Praxis. Ausgabe K, Kleintiere/Heimtiere·2024·Kleintierspezialisten, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: [Esophageal stenosis as a result of a right aortic arch in 2 cats].
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 3-month-old kitten and a 4-year-old cat were brought to the vet because they were both regurgitating food. The kitten had been having issues since starting solid food and was smaller than its siblings, while the older cat had sudden symptoms for five days but was otherwise healthy. Tests showed that both cats had a problem with their esophagus due to a vascular ring anomaly, which is a rare condition where blood vessels compress the esophagus. After surgery to correct the issue, the kitten recovered completely and showed no signs of regurgitation six months later. The older cat was doing well at the time of stitch removal, but unfortunately, the owners did not return for further follow-up.
People also search for: kitten regurgitation treatment · cat esophageal stricture surgery · cat vomiting after eating solid food
Abstract
A 3-month-old and a 4-year-old cat were presented in the clinic due to regurgitation. The kitten had displayed the symptoms since it had been fed solid foods and was smaller than the litter mates. The 4-year-old cat showed sudden-onset symptoms for 5 days prior to presentation and had a good general condition. Positive contrast thoracic radiographs of both cats in lateral recumbency showed an esophageal dilatation cranial to the heart base and raised a suspicion of foreign material with soft tissue density in this area. In the 4-year-old cat, findings of ventrodorsal thoracic radiographs were compatible with a dextroposition of the aorta and a slightly marked focal left curve of the trachea. The echocardiographic examination of the kitten pictured a right sided aorta, hence a vascular ring anomaly with a dextroposition from the aorta was suspected. Aberrant blood flow as it is seen in a persistent ductus arteriosus was not apparent in the echocardiography. As a result of the sudden development of the clinical signs in the older cat without displaying any former history of regurgitation, an esophagoscopy was performed to exclude an intraluminal esophageal cause for the stricture as well as to extract the foreign material. In this cat, computed tomography imaging also displayed an aberrant left subclavian artery. Both cats recovered well after surgical correction.The diagnosis of a ring anomaly in the kitten via echocardiography is a rare situation. As is the diagnosis of a high-grade esophageal stricture due to a vascular ring anomaly at the age of 4 without a former history of regurgitation.Recovery was excellent in the younger cat. There were no signs of regurgitation 6 months after surgery. The adult cat was in good general condition without clinical symptoms according to the owners when presented for stitch removal. Unfortunately, the adult cat was lost to follow up.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38701807/