Intestinal dehiscence and mortality in cats undergoing gastrointestinal surgery

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Surgery
• Feline Medicine
• Surgical Outcomes

Background:

• Gastrointestinal (GI) incisional dehiscence and mortality are critical concerns in veterinary surgery.
• Risk factors for adverse outcomes in cats undergoing GI surgery require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of GI incisional dehiscence and mortality in cats undergoing GI surgery.
• To identify risk factors associated with GI dehiscence and mortality, particularly preoperative septic peritonitis (PSP), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and sepsis.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective medical records search was conducted on 126 cats that underwent full-thickness GI surgery.
• Data collected included preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables, with a focus on PSP, SIRS, sepsis, GI dehiscence, and mortality.
• Postoperative follow-up of at least 10 days was obtained for survivors.

Main Results:

• The incidence of GI incisional dehiscence was less than 1%.
• Twenty-three cats (18.2%) died within 10 days of surgery.
• Cats with PSP had 6.7 times higher odds of mortality; postoperative hypothermia also increased mortality risk.

Conclusions:

• GI incisional dehiscence is rare after GI surgery in cats.
• Preoperative septic peritonitis (PSP) is a significant risk factor for mortality in cats undergoing GI surgery.
• Postoperative mortality, especially during home recovery, warrants further investigation with extended follow-up periods.