Come Spend a Night in the ER

Case #1

Patient Profile: "Oreo", a 3-year old, castrated male, domestic long-hair cat.

History: "Oreo" was admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Colorado State University with a history of being hit by a car.

Physical Examination: "Oreo" has severe bruising on the ventral abdomen.  Auscultation of the thorax reveals an absence of lung sounds on both sides and "Oreo's" heart rate is increased.  The pulses feel strong but "Oreo" has severe caudal abdominal pain upon palpation.

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Questions:

• Describe the most important organ system to assess in "Oreo".
• Explain whether you would request thoracic radiographs prior to any treatment.
• Explain why you would perform abdominal radiographs before abdominocentesis.
• Explain whether you would request a urea nitrogen or creatinine on the abdominal fluid obtained via abdominocentesis.
• Describe how you would  manage "Oreo's" uroabdomen before taking him to surgery.

Answers and Discussion:

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Copyright Wayne E. Wingfield, Colorado State University, 2000.  All rights reserved.
This page was last updated:  08/24/00