Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat small intestine blockages caused by hairballs and tissue damage
By Pawenski, Michael et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2023·BluePearl Veterinary Partners Levittown, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Histopathologic diagnosis and patient characteristics in cats with small intestinal obstructions secondary to trichobezoars.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old domestic shorthair cat was brought to the vet for vomiting and not eating, which turned out to be caused by a blockage in the intestines due to a hairball (trichobezoar). During surgery, the vet took biopsies from the intestines, which showed inflammation and damage near the blockage. The cat was treated successfully, and the vet noted that taking multiple biopsies from different areas can help get a clearer picture of any underlying issues. After treatment, the cat recovered and returned to eating normally.
People also search for: cat vomiting hairball blockage · cat intestinal obstruction treatment · cat not eating after surgery
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to describe the distribution of gastrointestinal histopathology findings associated with gastrointestinal obstructions secondary to trichobezoar formation in cats. METHODS: A total of 100 surgical gastrointestinal biopsies were obtained from 44 cats with gastrointestinal obstructions secondary to a trichobezoar. Medical records, including signalment, type and duration of clinical signs, surgical reports and histopathologic analysis, were reviewed for each cat. RESULTS: Biopsies taken near the site of the trichobezoar were more likely to show neutrophilic inflammation and mucosal erosion/ulceration compared with biopsies taken elsewhere in the small intestine. Lymphoplasmacytic and mixed lymphocytic and eosinophilic populations were the most common histopathologic findings from all biopsies followed by alimentary small cell lymphoma. Biopsy samples were more likely to represent a diagnosis of alimentary lymphoma in cats older than 10 years. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Gastrointestinal biopsies taken at the time of surgery in cats with trichobezoar obstructions may represent an important diagnostic tool for further evaluation of potential feline chronic enteropathy. Biopsies taken at the site of the obstruction should be interpreted cautiously as the presence of a trichobezoar may induce an acute inflammatory reaction. The resultant histologic interpretation at this site may not represent the chronic state of the intestinal mucosa, supporting the utility of obtaining multiple biopsies orad and aborad to the obstruction.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37747322/