CONGENITAL PERITONEOPERICARDIAL HERNIAS I N 16 CATS - PART 2 - DISCUSSION AND LITERATURE

Sixteen cases of peritoneopericardial hernias (ppH) in cats are descri bed in context and comparison with 58 cases published in the literatur e. 12 of our cats (75 %) belonged to the Persian breed. The age ranged between 4 weeks and 16 years. Eight animals (50 %) were 1 year of age . 69 % of all cats (n = 11) were male. The general clinical findings a s well as auscultation, EGG, radiographic and sonographic findings are reported. The kittens with less than 3 month of age were in poor phys ical conditions. In 6 cats the breathing pattern was changed, in 9 cat s heart sounds were muffled on one or both sides of the thorax. Systol ic heart murmurs were observed in 2 cats. In 6 animals signs of right or left heart enlargement and/or arrhythmias were detected electrocard iographically. Typical radiographic changes could be established in al l cases. Sonography was the most valuable technique for diagnosing ppH . Mainly liver and the gallbladder were easy to identify because of th eir characteristic echo pattern. In five cases different contrast-tech niques (Bariumsulfat per os, non-selective angiocardiography, positive contrast peritoneography) were applied. Surgery was performed in 8 of the 16 cats with ppH using always the midline laparotomy as surgical approach. The most important factor regarding surgical success was the length of time the condition persisted and coincident cardiovascular damages. The most frequently herniated organs were liver and liver tog ether with the gallbladder. Small intestine and spleen were seen less often. Because of poor general condition four cats were euthanized.