Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with breathing trouble 5 weeks after tracheal tube had a fibrin
By Nivy, Ran et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2020·Koret School of Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Obstructive fibrinous tracheal pseudomembrane in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 1.5-year-old spayed female cat was brought in for severe breathing problems five weeks after having a tube placed in her trachea (tracheal intubation). X-rays showed a significant narrowing of her trachea, and a 5-centimeter-long piece of abnormal tissue was found and removed. After this procedure, her breathing difficulties improved, and the X-ray results returned to normal. This condition, known as obstructive fibrinous tracheal pseudomembrane, is rare but can occur in cats after tracheal intubation, and it can be effectively treated by removing the tissue.
People also search for: cat breathing problems after intubation · cat tracheal narrowing treatment · cat respiratory distress causes
Abstract
Tracheal intubation (TI) is a common procedure that rarely entails life-threatening complications. A 1.5-year-old female spayed cat presented with acute signs of respiratory distress 5 weeks after undergoing TI. Radiographs revealed a marked, segmental, tracheal narrowing. A hard, 5-cm-long, white-yellowish tissue was identified and removed from the trachea, with subsequent resolution of clinical signs and radiographic changes. Microscopically, the tissue consisted of fibrin and lytic neutrophils, interspaced with optically empty cavities and a few remains of talcum powder and hair shafts. Consequently, a diagnosis of obstructive fibrinous tracheal pseudomembrane (OFTP) was made. A rare complication of TI in humans, OFTP should also be suspected in cats with respiratory distress, a history of TI and radiographic evidence of tracheal narrowing. Based on cases from other species and the cat described herein, the condition can be easily resolved with OFTP removal.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33098319/