Successful surgical treatment of a broncho-oesophageal fistula in a cat
Muir, P.; Bjorling, D.E.
Veterinary Record 134(18): 475-476
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 8059515 Document Number: 426799
Clinical examination of a 2-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat with a 7-month history of vomiting and coughing showed that the cat was depressed with a rectal temperature of 39.4 degrees C; increased respiratory sounds were present in the left haemothorax. Radiography revealed a large soft tissue mass in the left caudal region of the thoracic cavity which was thought to be herniation of the abdominal contents through a ruptured diaphragm. A cranial celiotomy showed that diaphragm was normal; a thoracotomy revealed a large abscess within the left caudal lung lobe.The abscess cavity communicated with the lumen of the oesophagus via the fistula. The lung lobe was resected, the fistula was excised and the defect in the oesophagus repaired. Despite some subcutaneous emphysema immediately surgery, the cat made a complete recovery. It is suggested that because the cat was young and had no history of oesophageal foreign body the broncho-oesophageal fistula in this cat was most likely to have been congenital.