Iatrogenic Pneumothorax in a Cat Following Placement of a Continuous Glucose Sensor

To describe the development and management of an iatrogenic pneumothorax in a cat after placement of a continuous glucose monitor sensor.

A 13-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat was presented to the emergency department for signs related to unregulated diabetes mellitus. A continuous glucose monitor was placed to facilitate glycemic monitoring during hospitalization. After placement of the sensor, the cat developed a unilateral iatrogenic pneumothorax that required placement of a thoracostomy tube for intermittent evacuation. The cat's pneumothorax resolved with medical management, and the cat was successfully discharged from the hospital. Two weeks after discharge, the cat was euthanized due to progression of systemic disease. No further clinical signs of pneumothorax were noted.

To the authors' knowledge, iatrogenic pneumothorax in a cat after placement of a continuous glucose sensor has not been previously reported in the veterinary literature.