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Diaphragmatic Hernia Diaphragmatic hernia is a tear in the diaphragm through which one or more abdominal organs may pass. The diaphragm is the muscular and fibrous structure which separates the chest from the abdomen. The most common cause of tearing is traumatic, usually associated with vehicle-related injury or a fall from height. Clinical signs normally include breathing difficulty. Without treatment, some mild cases will stabilize in a few days and clinical signs will only be associated with increased activity. This is the chronic form. These cats often become sedentary but may live for many years without surgical correction. The acute traumatic form produces severe respiratory difficulty, which may increase over 1-2 days as more abdominal organs are displaced into the chest. X-rays will show the abdominal organs in the chest and an empty, small abdomen. The abdomen may feel empty when palpated. Radiographs made immediately after trauma will not be diagnostic for a diaphragmatic hernia if abdominal organs have not migrated into the thorax. If a diaphragmatic hernia is suspected, the cat should be re-radiographed in 12-24 hours. Cats with breathing problems need to be handled very carefully because increased stress may be fatal. It may be necessary to place the cat in an oxygen tent Treatment first involves stabilisation of the patient and then considering surgery. The prognosis for all forms of diaphragmatic hernia is good as long as shock and arrhythmias resolve and successful surgical repair can be accomplished. However, cats with traumatic injuries may be poor surgical risks, especially if other traumatic injuries are present. |
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