Cats can have a diaphragmatic hernia. In it, the intestinal content enters the thoracic cavity due to a failure in the continuity of the diaphragm, which may be congenital or due to trauma. As a result, affected cats will present symptoms derived from compression of the lung and heart. Diagnosis is made by imaging tests and treatment is surgical.
Continue reading this article on our site to learn more about diaphragmatic hernia in cats, symptoms and treatment.
What is a diaphragmatic hernia in cats?
A diaphragmatic hernia occurs when there is a discontinuity in the diaphragm due to a defect in it, which allows protrusion of fat or abdominal organssuch as the liver, spleen, stomach or intestine to the chest cavity, where we find, among other structures, the lungs and the heart.
The diaphragm is a fine muscle involved in breathing. It allows a negative pressure when it contracts and the curvature of its dome is reduced, moving its central part backwards, which increases the volume of the thoracic cavity and the lungs expand to carry out respiration. Located between the thoracic and abdominal cavities, acting as a separator and preventing the abdominal organs from entering the thoracic cavity.
Types of diaphragmatic hernia in cats
Diaphragmatic hernias in cats can be of two types:
- Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia: After a blow, fall or fight, internal damage can occur, including rupture of the diaphragm, causing a hernia and communication between the thoracic and abdominal cavities.
- Congenital peritoneum-pericardial diaphragmatic hernia: there is a lasting communication between the pericardial cavity (layer that surrounds the heart) and the peritoneum (layer that covers the abdominal viscera), which usually has a congenital origin. This means that cats are born with this hernia, which, on many occasions, is not seen symptomatologically. Liver and gallbladder abnormalities are usually seen in symptomatic cases.
Causes of diaphragmatic hernia in cats
While the diaphragmatic hernias that kittens present at birth have a congenital origin, those that appear after birth are of traumatic origin In cats, they are more often caused by an accident, such as a fall from a great height, being run over or hit by the edge of a surface.
It should be considered that the diaphragm in young cats is a thin and still underdeveloped structure, which makes it more frequent and easy to break, which can generate the discontinuity that allows the passage of abdominal organs to the chest, causing a hernia.
Symptoms of diaphragmatic hernia in cats
Cats with diaphragmatic hernia will generally present clinical respiratory signs, ranging from mild respiratory distress to significant respiratory dysfunction with severe dyspnea and injuries such as chest wall dysfunction, presence of air, fluid, or viscera in the pleural space, pulmonary edema, cardiovascular dysfunction, and shock.
Cats usually show costal breathing, with maximum arching of the ribs and drawing in of the belly. Just over 10% of cats have cardiac arrhythmias. Other clinical signs are as follows:
- Thoracic rumbling.
- Reduced cardiorespiratory sounds.
- Vomiting.
- Anorexy.
- Regurgitation.
- Dysphagia.
- Jaundice, which is the yellowish discoloration of the mucous membranes, can occur if the liver is herniated, as liver failure occurs.
Feline diaphragmatic hernia diagnosis
Diagnosis is achieved by chest X-ray to visualize herniated organs in the chest cavity and assess the severity of the hernia. Ultrasound will be used in some cases to differentiate the abdominal organs and chest auscultation to assess the sounds produced. Generally, a dull sound on percussion indicates that the spleen and liver have been displaced. When there is fluid in the pleural cavity and if the sound is tympanic, the herniated organs are usually the intestine and stomach.
Treatment for diaphragmatic hernia in cats
Congenital diaphragmatic hernias can be operated or not depending on whether they produce symptoms and/or organic dysfunction in the cat. On the other hand, in traumatic diaphragmatic hernias, the only way to solve the symptoms is through reconstructive surgery of the diaphragm.
Surgery and postoperative period of diaphragmatic hernia in cats
To perform this surgical procedure, sedation and general anesthesia are necessary, which is not indicated when cats are very decompensated after the trauma, since they can worsen, increasing the risk. For this reason, the first step is to stabilize the cat with oxygen therapy, thoracotomy to remove fluid or air from the pleural space, and medical treatment.
The operation aims to rebuild the diaphragm and return the herniated viscera to their normal position inside the abdominal cavity. After this, cats must be hospitalized for a short period of time and medicated to control pain and inflammation. Although there are recoverable complications, such as pneumothorax or pulmonary edema, generally cats operated on for diaphragmatic hernia have a high success rate and recovery is rapid
