DVM Senior Student University of Georgia Athens, Georgia
Gastrointestinal foreign bodies (FB) are an important cause of emergent surgical intervention in cats, but little information exists in the literature on risks and outcomes in this species. The study purpose was to describe feline FB cases and compare perioperative factors and outcomes between linear (LFB) and nonlinear (NLFB) FB surgery in cats. Medical records were searched for cats undergoing FB removal surgery. Perioperative data were recorded. Data were compared between cats with a LFB and a NLFB; a binomial probability series was calculated for all cats. Fifty-eight cats were included with a mean age of 3.4 ± 3.7 years. All cats survived to discharge; none developedCats had a gastrotomy (n = 24), enterotomy (16), multifocal incisions (12), or no incision (6 FB moved into colon, 2 negative explore). Compared to cats with NLFB (n = 38), cats with LFB (n = 18) had a higher body condition score, Postoperatively, LFB were administered IV fluids for longer durations and a higher percentage received maropitant. Cats with LFB were more likely to develop a surgical site infection. Using a binomial probability series, there was a <5.2% chance of mortality for additional cats with FB. The retrospective nature and low case numbers are potential sources of error. Cats surgically treated for FB have a low incidence of mortality
