Vets align a rescue kittens thorax

A 4 month old rescue kitten called Gilbert, who was diagnosed with severe pectus excavatum, was brought to Hamilton Specialist Referrals (HSR) in Cressex Business Park, High Wycombe for surgery. When Gilbert arrived at HSR, the vets conducted a computerised tomography (CT) scan to help them plan the surgery procedure. After one month and one week, vets detached a splint which was put in place to align the kittens thorax, and were delighted to discover that the procedure was successful.

Michael Hamilton, Clinical Director, stated: “The scan showed dorsoventral narrowing of approximately seventy-five percent at the narrowest point. In such severe cases, the condition is usually fatal by twelve months of age. Sutures were pre-placed around the sternebrae and sequentially tied on the outside of the splint. The caudal sutures pulled the dorsally deviated sternum into a more normal position in alignment with the splint. A postoperative radiograph revealed a very pleasing result and notable marked improvement in ventilation parameters.”