Pb. Levine et al., ESOPHAGOSTOMY TUBES AS A METHOD OF NUTRITIONAL MANAGEMENT IN CATS - ARETROSPECTIVE STUDY, The Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 33(5), 1997, pp. 405-410
The use of esophagostomy tubes in 60 feline patients was evaluated ret
rospectively. Indications for tube placement, complications associated
with placement and management, duration of treatment and change in pa
tient body weight were evaluated. Hepatic disease was the most common
indication for tube placement. A minor complication associated with th
e surgical technique for tube placement was observed in three cases, I
nflammation or infection of the tube site, swelling of the head, or vo
mition of the tube were observed complications during management in 19
cases. Vomiting occurred and was a complicating factor in nine cases.
The average duration of tube placement was 23 days, and most patients
maintained or gained weight while being fed through their esophagosto
my tubes.