Post-mortem Findings in 54 Cases of Anesthetic Associated Death in Cats from Two Spay-neuter Programs in New York State

Overview

Journal J Feline Med Surg

Specialty Veterinary Medicine

Date 2011 Sep 13

PMID 21907603

Citations 15

Authors

Jodie A Gerdin

Margaret R Slater

Kathleen V Makolinski

Andrea L Looney

Leslie D Appel

Nicole M Martin

Sean P McDonough

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Anesthetic-associated death (AAD) in cats is infrequent, but occurs far more frequently than in people. Post-mortem investigations of AAD in cats are uncommon, and results only sporadically published. Here we report the findings in 54 cases of AAD in cats. Significant gross and/or microscopic pre-existing disease, including pulmonary, cardiac, and systemic disease, was detected in 33% of cases. Pulmonary disease was most frequently diagnosed (24% of cases), and included cases of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infection (9% of cases). Heart disease, including two cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, was less frequent (11% of cases). Four percent died from surgical complications. No significant gross or microscopic disease was detected in 63% of cases. Additional studies are needed to determine if these findings are representative of AAD in cats in other geographic areas or with access to veterinary care. This study demonstrates that post-mortem investigation of AADs is an important and worthwhile endeavor.

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