Esophageal dilation and duodenal-jejunal intussesception in an 8 year old cat

Abstract

An 8-year-old male castrated Maine Coon with a history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) was presented to Cornell’s Internal Medicine Service for a two month history of lethargy, inappetence, weight loss, and pharyngeal gurgling, and a three day history of regurgitation. The cat was suspected to be suffering from esophagitis/gastric reflux, secondary to chronic enteric disease (e.g flare up of IBD, or GI lymphoma). Thoracic radiographs and abdominal ultrasound revealed megaesophagus, gastroduodenal dysmotility, small intestinal thickening, and a proximal small intestinal intussusception. Surgical resection of the intussusception greatly reduced the cat’s clinical signs for a short period of time, but subsequent abdominal ultrasound showed persistent gastric and proximal duodenal ileus that appeared refractory to prokinetic therapy. Systemic complications of chronic gastrointestinal (GI) stasis ultimately led to the cat’s euthanasia. A cause for his megaesophagus, gastric atony, and intussusception was not found, although an autonomic nervous system disorder was suspected.