Pyometra in a Cat: A Clinical Case Report

 

Introduction

Pyometra is an acute or chronic suppurative inflammation of the uterus. It is characterized by endometrial hyperplasia with cystic dilation of endometrial glands and accumulation of a neutrophil-rich exudate in the uterine lumen. The incidence of feline pyometra is still not well documented and probably underestimated because queens often don’t present with clinical signs [1]. No prevalence data for pyometra have so far been described in cats, but observations of most veterinarians are that the disease is observed less commonly than in dogs. The most common clinical finding in case of 75% of pyometra cases is mucopurrulent to hemorrhagic vaginal discharge [2]. The clinical presentation of pyometra is similar in cats and dogs. In ‘open-cervix pyometra’ a blood stained; purulent vaginal discharge may be the only clinical sign. Animals with ‘closed-cervix pyometra’ may not show any vaginal discharge and are more commonly systemically ill because resorption of bacterial toxins from the uterine lumen into the circulation can result in endotoxaemia. Bacteremia may also occur. Non-specific clinical signs such as anorexia, vomiting, lethargy, loss of weight and unkempt appearance can also be observed [3]. Polyuria and polydypsia do not occur as often as in dogs. They were reported only in 9% of the cases [4].
Abdominal ultrasound is the most important diagnostic tool in a pyometra case. The uterine horns typically appear distended with hypo-/ to hyperechoic fluid with or without flocculation. The uterine wall often appears thickened with irregular edges and small hypoechoic areas consistent with cystic changes of the endometrial glands. The pyometra can be diffuse or segmental. Cytology of the uterine or vaginal discharge is likely to reveal degenerative neutrophils and phagocytized bacteria. Leukopenia can be present in around 5% of the cases [4]. Treatment includes correction of fluid deficits, proper administration of antibiotics against bacterial organisms and removal of infected uterine contents. The other management includes surgical removal of ovary and uterus (ovariohysterectomy) or use of by PGF2α [3]. The decision to try medical or surgical therapy is based on the physical status and breeding capacity of the queen.
However, some complications may develop after ovariohysterectomy (OHE), such as ovarian remnant syndrome (ORS). This syndrome may develop because of the failure to totally remove both ovaries (most commonly the right ovary) at OHE, or the presence of a partial or complete separation of a portion of normal ovary (the fragment may be located near the ovary or in the broad ligament) that is not detected at OHE. In some cases, uterine stump pyometra may occur because of ovarian remnants and this situation may be fatal in affected queens. Worldwide, fatal complications occur as a result of surgical errors in routine OHE. In this article, we report and discuss the procedure and importance of ORS in a queen.

Materials and Methods

History and Clinical Examination

An eleven years old local breed cat was admitted to Teaching and Training Pet Hospital and Research Centre, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Bangladesh, with history of anorexia, chronic emaciation. At first, general physical examination was done, then special examination was done. On physical examination, body temperature found 1010C, heart rate 174 beats per minute and respiratory rate 42 breaths per minute.

On abdominal ballottement the uterus felt harder and enlarged than normal. Lateral radiograph revealed multiple tubular, radioopaque fluid filled structures from caudal to mid abdomen (Figure 1). The structures appeared distinct and separate from the intestinal loops. Ultrasonography was performed using a B mode real-time 5MHz linear transducer. The finding of abdominal ultrasound was found multiple anechoic fluid filled area without foculation (Figure 2). Then blood sample was collected for doing routine examination and serum analysis.

Figure 1: Multiple tubular, radio-opaque fluid filled structures

Figure 2: Multiple anechoic fluid filled pocket.

Surgical Management

Restraining and Anesthesia: Firstly, the cat was being held on its side with its back against the handler, while the handler grasps the front and back legs, with a forearm across the cat neck. As premedication agent atropine sulphate was administered (Injection Atropine®, Techno drug, Bangladesh, 0.04mg/kg body weight intramuscularly) and as muscle relaxant xylazine hydrochloride (Injection xylazine®, Indian Immunologicals Ltd, India, 1mg/ kg BW intramuscularly) administered. Again, as a general anesthesia ketamine hydrochloride (G-ketamine®, Gonoshasthaya Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Bangladesh, 15 mg/Kg body weight intravenously) was administered. The maintenance anesthetic dose was given half of the initial dose during the surgery. Preparation of surgical area was carried out after shaving and removing hairs. 70% alcohol scrubbed onto the skin around the surgery area, the area is then covered until surgery, since nothing must touch it once it is cleaned.
Surgical Procedure: The cat was being laid on her back (Figure 3) and a sterile drapper was placed over her. Close monitoring of temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, gum color, pulse strength and depth of anesthesia was done. An incision was made in the middle of the underside along the length of the abdomen. After exposing the abdomen by laparotomy, the uterine and ovarian blood vessels were properly secured and the ovaries, uterine horns and uterus were completely removed. The abdominal wall was closed with catgut (size: 1-0). The skin was then closed with cross-mattress suture pattern using silk. The sutured wound was covered with the benzoin seal. During the entire operative period, 5% dextrose saline was intravenously infused.

Figure 3: Lying the cat at dorsal recumbent position.

Post-Operative Care: After surgery, antibiotic ceftriaxone @20 mg/Kg body weight (Injection Triject vet 1gm®, SK+F Pharmaceuticals, Bangladesh) was administered intramuscularly daily for 7 days. Antihistaminic chlorpheneramine maleate @1mg/ Kg body weight (Injection Astavet®, Acme Laboratories Ltd., Bangladesh) was administered intramuscularly daily for 7 days. Analgesic (Injection meloxicam @40 mg/Kg body weight and Injection Melvet®, Acme Laboratories Ltd., Bangladesh) was administered subcutaneously daily for 5 days for pain management. The patient was kept in clean squeeze cage and observed for 7 days. No complication was noted, and the bitch recovered uneventfully. On the 14th day, the suture was removed, and it was noticed that the surgical site was healed completely (Figures 4-9).

Figure 4: Ligating the uterus at the base of the uterine body.

Figure 5: Removal of ovaries.

Figure 6: Removal of uterus.

Figure 7: Release of pus from uterus.

Figure 8: Application of benzoin seal.

Figure 9: Cat after surgery.

Results and Discussion

Pyometra is a uterine inflammatory disorder characterized by cystic endometrial hyperplasia [5]. Potter et al. Potter et al. [6] concluded that the prevalence of pyometra in cats increases with age in sexually intact female cats and mainly after parturition, while Agudelo, [7] suggested that the disease is common in queens older than three years and in other queens older than five years with no relationship to the number of parturitions, these close to findings were reported in this case. Hagman et al. [8] found comparatively higher prevalence of pyometra in Bengal cat which is almost similar to this study. Pyometra is a disease of the middle-aged or older animal which was also stated by Brady et al. It could be speculated whether this increase is related to degenerative changes in the uterus or other conditions such as ovarian pathologies or uterine neoplasia that more often affect older animals and may predispose for developing pyometra. But it has been described also in younger cats [9-11].

Present study before treatment the hemoglobin level of cat was decreased indicating anemia which agrees with the previous reports [12,13]. This might be due to loss of red blood cells by diapedesis into uterine lumen apart from depressed feed intake and impaired erythropoiesis under toxemic condition in severely affected cases [14]. The PCV level was decreased in the bitches indicating a mild normocytic, normochromic philia might be due to and regenerative type of anemia [15]. According to Greene et al. [16] total erythrocyte count before treatment was decreased in the bitches affected with pyometra indicating anemia which is similar to this study. It might be associated with the toxic depression of the bone marrow whereas severe non-regenerative, microcytic, hypochromic anemia accompanied by extremely high white blood cell levels might be indicative of a concurrent blood loss possibly by diapedesis into luminal pus and due to shortened life span of circulating erythrocytes associated with iron deficiency [17]. Different degree of leucocytosis was observed in bitches affected with pyometra which is consistent to this study. It might be due to severity of the inflammation varying between animals.

In the present study, absolute neutrophilia, lymphopenia, monocytosis with normal eosinophil count was the most consistent finding among the bitches affected with pyometra. Neutrophilia with regenerative shift to the left might be due to retention of purulent exudates in the uterus which exerts a chemotactic effect on neutrophils resulting into accelerated granulopoiesis and lymphopenia might be due to severe stress and elevated monocyte count might be due to chronic suppurative process [12]. Neutrophilia is a typical feature in hematology of bitches affected with pyometra [18] which might be due to influence of toxins in pyometra [19]. The ovariohysterectomy is the useful treatment of pyometra. Potter et al. [6] recorded that 61% of affected cats were spayed or died because of complications relating to reproductive tract disease. The case fatality for pyometra overall was 5.6%. In dogs it is reported to be 3% to 4% [20]. The reason for the higher fatality rate in cats is not known, but one theory could be that this species is less sensitive to endotoxin, or not as prone to show clinical signs unless they develop sepsis [21].

Pyometra can cause liver and kidney function changes (Nak et al. 2001). Occasionally, in this study ALT level moderately increased which support the finding of Nak [22]. Because of septicemia hepatocellular damage were happened resulting diminished hepatic circulation and cellular hypoxia in the dehydrated cats. In this study, decreased ALT result can explain by a process of inhibition of liver enzyme synthesis or possible hepatic membrane damage. Renal dysfunction may develop secondary related to bacterial endotoxin to pyometra. In this case, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine concentration increased it might be due to dehydration [23-27]. A high creatinine concentration was determined in 12% of a group of cats with pyometra Kenney et al. [28].

In this study, ovariohysterectomy was performed under general anesthesia using xylazine hydrochloride and ketamine hydrochloride which is almost similar to study of Deniz et al. [28]. The causes of postoperative wound dehiscence include rough handling and tearing of tissues during surgery, improper selection of the suture material, inefficient suturing, infection, hematoma or seroma formation, failure to obliterate dead space and training of the animal. In such cases, debriment and fresh coaptation of the wound is indicated [29].

Table 1: Hematological and biochemical analysis of pyometric cat.

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