Case Study

Jejunal obstruction in a 1 year old DSH cat

The patient is a feline DSH, MN, 1 year. Jazz presented today for evaluation of vomiting for a duration of 3 days, though he has not vomited in 12-24 hours per owner. Jazz frequently eats inappropriate things around the house. The owner reports no urination or bowel movement for two days. No coughing, sneezing, or diarrhea noted. Strictly indoors, up to date on vaccines. Physical Exam unremarkable. CBC findings: HCT 52.7%, eosinopenia, thrombocytopenia. Chemistry findings: mild hyperglycemia (177), BUN 52, Calcium 11.7, Albumin 4.3, ALT 251.

Sonographic Differential Diagnosis

Upper gastrointestinal obstructive pattern. Suspect foreign body.

Image Interpretation

The stomach was dilated with anechoic fluid. The fluid dilation continued into the pylorus. Gas artifact was noted in the upper gastrointestinal tract and stomach. This obscured some regions. The small intestine was dilated and was followed by empty small intestine. The midabdomen revealed echogenic material in what appeared to be the small intestine. The descending colon presented some stool.

DX

Jejunal obstruction

Outcome

Not available

Clinical Differential Diagnosis

GI pathology: Non-specific gastro-enteritis (viral, bacterial, helminths, toxins, food), foreign body, lymphoma, inflammatory bowel disease; liver pathology: acute hepatopathy; Renal pathology