Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Surgical management of constipation.
- Journal:
- Journal of feline medicine and surgery
- Year:
- 2002
- Authors:
- White, R N
- Affiliation:
- Davies White Veterinary Specialists
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Constipation in cats can have various causes, and how it's treated depends on identifying the specific reason for each cat. A common surgical treatment is for a condition called idiopathic megacolon, where the colon becomes enlarged without a known cause. Other reasons for constipation that might need surgery include issues from neutering, hernias, or broken pelvises. The typical surgery involves removing part of the colon while keeping a connection to the small intestine, and while most cats will have some loose stools right after the surgery, the long-term results are usually very good. Overall, this surgery tends to be safe and effective for helping cats with constipation.
Abstract
There are many recognised causes of constipation in the cat and the management of the condition depends on the clinician's ability to recognise the appropriate aetiology in each case. Most surgery therapies for constipation in the cat are related to the management of idiopathic megacolon, although causes such as pelvic outlet obstruction, complications of neutering surgery, perineal herniation, and malunion pelvic fractures may also require surgical intervention. Currently, the surgical management of megacolon consists of subtotal colectomy with the recommendation that the ileocolic junction be preserved. The procedure, in general, is associated with few life-threatening complications although the majority of individuals will experience a transient period of loose stool formation in the immediate post-operative period. In the majority of cases, the long-term outcome following subtotal colectomy is considered excellent.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12354516/