Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with bile duct blockage treated by choledochoenterostomy surgery
By Nicole Diana Wolf et al.·Published in Animals·2025·Division of Small Animal Surgery, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: First Case Report of Choledochoenterostomy in a Cat with Biliary Obstruction Due to Cholangiohepatitis and Papillary Stenosis
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat was brought to the vet after suffering from a year of not eating, weight loss, vomiting, and increased thirst and urination. The vet found that the cat had jaundice and other signs of liver issues, and tests showed a bacterial infection affecting the liver and bile ducts. Despite trying conservative treatments, the cat's condition didn't improve, leading to surgery where the vet performed several procedures to address the bile duct obstruction. Although the cat showed some initial recovery, he later developed sepsis and sadly passed away ten days after the surgery.
People also search for: cat vomiting and weight loss · cat jaundice treatment · cat liver disease surgery · choledochoenterostomy for cats · cat bacterial infection treatment
Abstract
A 2-year-old male neutered domestic shorthair cat was presented with a 12-month history of anorexia, weight loss, vomiting, polyuria, and polydipsia. Physical examination revealed a responsive but debilitated cat with icteric mucous membranes and a low body-condition score. Laboratory tests showed mild macrocytic anemia, elevated liver enzymes, hyperproteinemia with hypoalbuminemia, hyperbilirubinaemia, and a decreased vitamin B12 level. Abdominal ultrasound revealed marked dilation of the common bile duct (CBD) and gallbladder, consistent with suspected extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction, as well as secondary pancreatic and intrahepatic duct distension. Cytological and bacteriological analyses confirmed bacterial cholangiohepatitis due to a mixed infection with <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Peptostreptococcus canis</i>. Despite initial conservative management, the cat’s clinical condition remained unchanged, prompting exploratory laparotomy. Intraoperative findings confirmed the ultrasonographic suspicions and revealed severe pancreatitis. Based these findings, a cholecystectomy, choledochoenterostomy, and placement of a cholecystostomy tube as well as an abdominal drain and jejunal feeding tube were performed. Postoperatively, the cat initially showed improvement but subsequently developed signs of sepsis requiring intensive care. Although temporary stabilization was achieved, the cat died suddenly ten days after surgery due to unknown causes. This case report highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with bacterial cholangiohepatitis secondary to biliary obstruction in cats and documents the first clinical application of choledochoenterostomy—a surgical procedure previously only described hypothetically in this species.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15172634