AN UNUSUAL CASE OF THORACIC FOREIGN BODY IN A CAT

Abstract

A 10 month old, long hair, female Persian cat weighing 03 kg with radiographic finding of a sewing needle in the thoracic cavity and complaint of vomiting with occasional sneezing for the last two days was referred to Round Lake Animal Hospital, DHA phase-6, Lahore-Pakistan. Assuming that the needle is still in the caudal thoracic esophagus, the referring veterinarian had already performed gastrotomy in a bid to remove the needle through gastroesophageal junction but could not find it. On receiving the cat, radiographs of the thorax and abdomen were again taken to evaluate the abdominal detail and to see the exact location of the needle to decide the surgical plan. The needle was clearly seen in the dorsal third of the thoracic cavity. The abdominal radiographs were unremarkable. The needle along with thread was removed through median sternotomy. The cat recovered without any appreciable postoperative complications.