Severe esophageal injuries occurring after general anesthesia in two cats: case report and literature review

Adami, C.; Di Palma, S.; Gendron, K.; Sigrist, N. (2011). Severe esophageal injuries occurring after general anesthesia in two cats: case report and literature review. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 47(6), pp. 436-42. Lakewood, Colo.: American Animal Hospital Association 10.5326/JAAHA-MS-5690

Text Adami_2011.pdf - Published Version Restricted to registered users only Available under License Publisher holds Copyright. Download (693kB) | Request a copy

Two healthy cats underwent elective surgical procedures under general anesthesia. One developed severe esophagitis leading to esophageal rupture, mediastinitis, and pyothorax. The other cat developed esophageal stricture, diverticulum formation, and suspected iatrogenic perforation. Both cats had signs of dysphagia and regurgitation beginning a few days after anesthesia. The first cat also had severe dyspnea due to septic pleural effusion and pneumomediastinum. In the second cat, endoscopy revealed diffuse esophagitis, an esophageal stricture, and a large esophageal diverticulum. Rupture of the esophageal wall occurred while inflating the esophagus for inspection. Due to the poor prognosis, both cats were euthanized. Necropsy revealed severe esophageal changes. Postanesthetic esophagitis has been previously described in dogs and cats; however, severe life-threatening esophageal injuries rarely occur as a sequel to general anesthesia. To the authors' knowledge, esophageal rupture secondary to perianesthetic reflux has never been reported in cats.

Interest & Impact

Downloads

1 since deposited on 04 Oct 2013
0 in the past 12 months

Citations

5 Citations in Web of Science ®
6 Citations in Scopus

Search

in Google Scholar™

Services

Actions (login required)

Edit item

Actions (login required)

Edit item