Vetgirl Veterinary Continuing Education Podcasts

In today's VETgirl podcast, Dr. Lisa Powell, DACVECC, reviews pneumomediastinum in cats. This original study was published by Thomas et al out of University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, and characterizes the incidence, causes, presenting complaint, clinical course, and outcome of cats diagnosed with pneumomediastinum. So what did this study find? 69% of cats had a secondary (e.g., obvious inciting) cause, with 38% of the cases having had endotracheal intubation and positive pressure ventilation (PPV). In approximately a quarter of the cases, trauma was the cause, while in 4% of the cases, a tracheal foreign body caused the pneumomediastinum. Interesting to note? The clinical signs and diagnosis of spontaneous pneumomediastinum was due to emesis in 6 of 14 cats. Regardless, this study found that the prognosis is good with supportive care, so a) don't give up on these, and b) stop over inflating your endotracheal tubes under dental procedures. References: 1. Thomas EK, Syring RS. Pneumomediast