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Pneumothorax in cats with `feline asthma`
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5 out of 421 cats with `feline asthma` presented to the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania from 1990 to 2000 showed concurrent pneumothorax. Diagnosis and therapy are discussed in this report.
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Of 421 cases of feline asthma, 5 cats fulfilled the inclusion criteria (1.2%). All 5 had respiratory distress at presentation. One cat was panting, and the other 4 cats had respiratory rates of 28, 52, 58 and 120 breaths per minute (bpm), respectively (mean RR 65±39 bpm). Historical findings included untreated chronic cough (n=3), previously treated asthma (n=1), and no previous illness (n=1). Thoracocentesis was performed in 4/5 cats, and 3 of those cats required thoracostomy tubes. Four cats required immediate oxygen supplementation, and 1 of those cats required ventilation. All 5 cats had evidence of pneumothorax on initial radiographs. Follow-up radiographs revealed partial or complete resolution of pneumothorax in 4 cats which were discharged alive with total hospitalization of 2-7 days, but were then lost to follow-up. One cat was euthanized because it could not be weaned off mechanical ventilation, and necropsy confirmed end-stage feline asthma and emphysema.
Conclusion: Small airway obstruction can predispose asthma patients to increased alveolar pressure, emphysema, and spontaneous pneumothorax, which can lead to dyspnea in affected cats. The short-term outcome in these cats was good despite the severity of dyspnea at presentation.
Source: Cooper, E.S., Syring, R.S.,King, L.G. (2003): Pneumothorax in cats with a clinical diagnosis of feline asthma: 5 cases (1990-2000).
In: Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care 13 (2), 95-101.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi: 10.1046/j.1435-6935.2003.00081.x
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25th FECAVA EuroCongress 4-9 September 2019, St. Petersburg / RussiaESVN-ECVN Symposium 2018ESAVSVetAgendaLab in Practice - Clinical PathologyEuropean Master of Small Animal Veterinary MedicineSEVC 2014ESAVS - Neuropathology & MRICongressMed 2014ACVIM 2014VetContact
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