TY - JOUR
T1 - Chylous Ascites in 2 Ferrets
AU - Vilalta, Laura
AU - Altuzarra, Raul
AU - Molina, Jenifer
AU - Meléndez-Lazo, Antonio
AU - Doria, Georgina
AU - Espada, Yvonne
AU - Ramis, Antoni
AU - Martorell, Jaime
PY - 2017/4/1
Y1 - 2017/4/1
N2 - © 2017 Elsevier Inc. The purpose of this report is to describe 2 cases of chylous ascites (CA) in ferrets. In the first patient, CA was likely secondary to an obstruction of lymphatic drainage due to lymphoma; and in the second patient, CA developed as a postoperative complication of adrenal carcinoma with multiple metastases. In both cases, CA was diagnosed based on the concentration of triglycerides and cholesterol in the abdominal fluid. Medical treatment resulted in partial remission of the CA in the first case; however, the patient suffered an acute death approximately 3 weeks following its initial presenation. In the second patient, multiple abdominocenteses were required to relieve abdominal discomfort and dyspnea. Five days after the adrenal surgery the ferret developed chylothorax and septic peritonitis, and due to its deteriorating condition was humanely euthanatized. Although the final outcomes in the 2 ferret cases were disappointing, advanced neoplastic disease, usually associated with a poor prognosis, was considered the underlying cause of CA in both patients. More studies are required in ferrets diagnosed with CA to determine proper nutritional and medical management, diagnostic tests, and surgical options. Unfortunately, there is little information describing CA in ferrets and the veterinary medical literature as a whole.
AB - © 2017 Elsevier Inc. The purpose of this report is to describe 2 cases of chylous ascites (CA) in ferrets. In the first patient, CA was likely secondary to an obstruction of lymphatic drainage due to lymphoma; and in the second patient, CA developed as a postoperative complication of adrenal carcinoma with multiple metastases. In both cases, CA was diagnosed based on the concentration of triglycerides and cholesterol in the abdominal fluid. Medical treatment resulted in partial remission of the CA in the first case; however, the patient suffered an acute death approximately 3 weeks following its initial presenation. In the second patient, multiple abdominocenteses were required to relieve abdominal discomfort and dyspnea. Five days after the adrenal surgery the ferret developed chylothorax and septic peritonitis, and due to its deteriorating condition was humanely euthanatized. Although the final outcomes in the 2 ferret cases were disappointing, advanced neoplastic disease, usually associated with a poor prognosis, was considered the underlying cause of CA in both patients. More studies are required in ferrets diagnosed with CA to determine proper nutritional and medical management, diagnostic tests, and surgical options. Unfortunately, there is little information describing CA in ferrets and the veterinary medical literature as a whole.
KW - chylous ascites
KW - clinical signs
KW - diagnosis
KW - ferrets
KW - treatment
U2 - 10.1053/j.jepm.2017.01.024
DO - 10.1053/j.jepm.2017.01.024
M3 - Article
SN - 1557-5063
VL - 26
SP - 150
EP - 155
JO - Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine
JF - Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine
ER -