CASE STUDY OF TRAUMATIC DIAPHRAGMATIC HERNIA REPAIR IN A CAT AT PET FIRST VETERINARY CENTRE, KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

Abstract

Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia is an injury to the thorax in which the forces applied to the diaphragm exceed the diaphragmatic holding strength, resulting in a defect that allows abdominal contents to protrude into the thoracic cavity. This case research aimed to investigate diaphragmatic hernia treatment and surgical repair. The patient is a 1-year old, female domestic short hair (DSH) cat, black-white hair with a body weight of 2.8 kg. Pet First Veterinary Center monitored clinic symptoms and diagnostic data before surgery. Patient state was closely checked. The loss of the ventral border of the diaphragm and the displacement of abdominal viscera within the thorax are the most prominent radiological features in patient with diaphragmatic hernias. Surgery was performed at Pet First Veterinary Centre to restore negative pressure in the thoracic cavity by thoracocentesis. Diaphragmatic hernia repair involved reconstructing the diaphragm to restore its original function. Intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) was performed in this surgery. The treatment with corrective surgery was recorded, followed by the recovery of the patient within one month of the surgery. This research demonstrated that diaphragmatic hernia repair was an effective method of treatment for diaphragmatic hernia to preserve pulmonary function.