"Waffle" -- 2 views of the abdomen
-4 year old Cornish Rex castrated male
-vomiting hourly x 12 hours
See images below. Click to enlarge. Click magnifying glass at the bottom of enlarged images for full-sized image.
Radiographic findings:
-small intestinal plication and bunching from level of duodenum to colon
-linear soft tissue structures surrounded by air in ascending colon
-good serosal detail
-soft tissue medial to spleen, lateral to left kidney on VD view is most likely pancreas
Radiographic Diagnosis:
-small intestinal linear foreign body
-good serosal detail makes perforation less likely
-probably normal pancreas
Recommendations:
-Surgery
-US ok, to confirm FB and evaluate for free fluid, pancreatitis
-minus a point if barium Upper GI recommended, since the cat is vomiting profusely -- he will probably vomit up the contrast medium, putting the cat at risk for aspiration. Also, barium should be avoided if perforation is possible or surgery is likely.
Candidate Performance:
All candidates listed foreign body as a differential, but some mentioned IBD and neoplasia. Some recommended UGI.
