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Client Library Article
LINEAR
FOREIGN BODY
| LINEAR FOREIGN BODY
CAUSING INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION |
| Anytime an
animal ingests any object other than food, there is a risk of developing an
intestinal obstruction if the foreign object becomes lodged in the intestine.
Especially dangerous are linear foreign bodies, such as yarn, tinsel,
fishing line, ribbon, Easter basket grass, cloth, or any other string like
material. These foreign bodies can get stuck around the base of the tongue
with the rest of it swallowed, or can get anchored in the stomach. As the
other end of the string starts to pass down the intestine, it cases severe
bunching, kinking up, and folding of the intestine as the string
continues down the intestinal tract. Clinical signs include vomiting,
anorexia, abdominal pain and sometimes diarrhea. As the intestinal bunching
persists, eventually the string will slice through the intestinal wall which
then allows leakage of intestinal contents (specifically bacteria) into the
abdominal cavity. Once this occurs, peritonitis (infection of the abdominal
cavity or belly) develops and the animal dies soon after without emergency
surgery. |
| Symptoms |
-
Vomiting – usually acute onset and non-stop vomiting,
projectile
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Lethargy / depression
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Abdominal (belly) pain- crying out, hissing when touched or picked up
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Reluctance to move –due to pain
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Straining
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Diarrhea-occasionally
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| Diagnosis |
- Physical exam, the veterinarian can often feel bunching
of the intestines in the abdomen and the cats are always
painful (and let you know). The oral cavity should be examined to see if a
piece of string is caught around the base of the tongue. Many cats will
present with high heart and respiratory rates, and be weak and dehydrated.
- If the string has already perforated the intestines, the cats will be shocky
with dark dry gums and weak pulses. Many are non-responsive to being
handled, and often have a low body temperature.
- Radiographs (X-ray)- are used to look for a bunching up or
plication obstruction pattern of the intestinal loops.
- Ultrasound- occasionally, ultrasound is useful for diagnosing a
linear foreign body pattern.
|
| Treatment- Emergency
surgery |
| Surgery is required in order to remove the string foreign
body. The belly is opened and small incisions are made into the intestine in
order to remove the string that is within the intestine. Any sections of
intestine in which the blood supply has been cut off or the intestinal
wall itself is too damaged is removed and the healthy ends of intestine are
sewn together. Lastly, the abdominal cavity is flushed out with
several liters of fluid in order to rinse off any bacteria that may have
leaked from the intestines. The belly is then closed with sutures and the
cat is woken up from anesthesia. For several days after surgery, the
cat is given IV fluids, antibiotics, and supportive care. |
| Prognosis |
| With early surgery and aggressive supportive care after
surgery, many pets do well and live normal lives afterwards. The
prognosis for cats that already have tears in the intestine and bacterial
peritonitis is more guarded even with surgery. The key is to do
surgery before there is too much damage to the intestines. |
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