Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Case report: Small bowel obstruction secondary to congenital transmesenteric internal hernia in a cat
- Journal:
- Frontiers in Veterinary Science
- Year:
- 2024
- Authors:
- Min-Hee Kang et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Bio-Animal Health, Jangan University, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea · CH
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
An 8-month-old male British Shorthair cat was brought to the vet because he had stopped eating and was vomiting. He seemed very tired, and the vet found a lump in his belly, which raised concerns about a possible blockage. X-rays and an ultrasound showed that part of his small intestine was swollen and not working properly, indicating a serious condition called intussusception, where part of the intestine folds into itself. Surgery confirmed that he had a congenital (present from birth) defect causing a blockage, and the vet was able to fix it by carefully removing the affected tissue and closing the defect. After three days in the hospital, the cat recovered well and was sent home, marking a successful outcome.
Abstract
An 8-month-old castrated male British Shorthair cat presented with acute anorexia and vomiting. The overall clinical presentation included generalized depression. Physical examination revealed palpable abdominal mass, thus foreign body or intussusception was suspected. Abdominal radiographs showed segmental dilation of small intestine and ultrasonography revealed target lesion with dilated small bowel loops and disrupted normal wall layering, suggestive of intussusception. Exploratory laparotomy confirmed congenital mesenteric defects associated with small intestinal obstruction. Surgical intervention involved dissection, ligation of encircling blood vessels, and closure of mesenteric defects. The cat was discharged after 3 days, exhibiting normal postoperative recovery. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of congenital mesenteric defect associated with small intestinal obstruction in a cat. While internal hernias are rare, it is essential to include them in the differential diagnosis for cases of intestinal obstruction, particularly in patients with no history of previous surgery or trauma. The potential for strangulation and ischemia in the affected loops elevates internal hernias to a critical, life-threatening condition, emphasizing the need for prompt recognition and urgent surgical intervention as an emergency.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1358797