The surgical management of a diaphragmatic hernia in a cat – case report

Abstract

A diaphragmatic hernia is an internal hernia, characterized by a defect of the musculotendinous plate between the thoracic and abdominal cavities, which allows the abdominal content to protrude into the thoracic cavity. This case study emphasizes the importance of choosing the propitious time in the surgical repair and also the anaesthesia principles in diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy. A 2-year-old intact female cat was referred with the following symptoms: open-mouth breathing, tachypnea, tachycardia, pale mucous membranes and a dyspnoea increasing when changing position. The definitive diagnosis was confirmed through thoracic and abdominal radiography and the surgical procedure was performed after the patient’s condition was stable.