Chylothorax is a condition in cats during which lymphatic fluid builds up in the pleural space between the lungs and the chest walls. It's dangerous and can be life-threatening.
Usually, lymphatic fluid, which drains from the intestinal tract, is carried through the chest cavity within the thoracic duct, to the cranial vena cava so it can enter the vein system. However, when something goes wrong and the fluid drains into the pleural space instead, the result is chylothorax.
Chylothorax results in an inability for the lungs to inflate all the way, which is painful for the cat and leads to decreased oxygen levels in the body.
There are three leading causes of feline chylothorax:
Siamese and Himalayan cats have an increased incidence of idiopathic chylothorax compared to other breeds.
When a cat is suffering from chylothorax, he might develop some or all of the following signs:
Note: In some cases of feline chylothorax, fluid builds up slowly in the chest cavity, allowing the cat's body to adjust. In those instances, there might not be any signs of illness until suddenly, the cat is extremely ill.
Your veterinarian will do a complete physical exam and take a thorough history of the cat's signs and their duration. During the exam, the doctor might have trouble hearing your cat's heart because of the fluid in the pleural cavity. He or she will be very likely to recommend a chest x-ray at that time.
The fluid in the chest cavity of a cat with chylothorax will be visible on an x-ray, but it won't be possible to determine the type of fluid. Other conditions can cause different types of fluid to accumulate in the pleural space.
To discover that the fluid present in a cat's pleural space is chyle, some of the fluid must be collected and analyzed. That is done by inserting a needle into the chest cavity and withdrawing some and then examining it under the microscope. Chyle is whitish in color, and, under the microscope, it contains a large amount of triglyceride (fat) and many lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell).
Treatment of this condition is aimed at relieving the fluid accumulation in the pleural space so the cat can breathe more effectively. This is usually done by draining the fluid through a needle. A chest tube can be placed that removes the fluid continuously while the cat is kept in the veterinary hospital for observation and maintenance of the tube.
Some cats with chylothorax will need oxygen therapy.
If an underlying cause can be determined, that needs to be treated. For instance, heart disease or fungal infection treatment should be started right away to help decrease the production of chyle in the chest cavity.
Surgery is sometimes recommended once the cat is stable.
Over time, the fat present in chyle causes inflammation of the lungs, heart, and chest walls and can trigger scar tissue production. When that happens, the prognosis for recovery declines.
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