© Kirrawee Veterinary Hospital FELINE DISEASES
Diaphragmatic hernia
The diaphragm is the sheet of muscle which separates the chest
from the abdomen . Crushing injuries to the chest or abdomen can
result in rupture of the diaphragm. This can result in abdominal
organs (intestine, liver, spleen) entering the chest cavity.
Diaphramatic hernias can also be congenital (occuring during the development of the fetus) and is probably inherited
Clinical signs may initially go undiagnosed. Abdominal breathing
with exaggerated movements of the abdominal muscles and minimal
chest movement during breathing may be the only early indication.
Other signs may be related to the abdominal organs involved in
the hernia. Respiratory symptoms may increase with time especially
if fluid (pleural effusion) begins to accumulate in the chest.
Diagnosis is made via X-ray. Treatment requires surgery to remove
abdominal organs from the chest and repair the diaphragm. This
may be complicated by adhesions between the lung or pericardium
(sack around the heart) and the abdominal organs. <
Related sites |