Point-of-Care Ultrasound and Clinical Findings in 14 Cats With High-Rise Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

To describe point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) and clinical findings in cats with high-rise syndrome.

DESIGN

Retrospective descriptive study.

SETTING

University hospital.

ANIMALS: Fourteen cats that fell from a height.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN

RESULTS

Data were normally distributed and are reported as mean (±SD). Cats fell from 1-9 stories. Mean respiratory rate was 53 (±23)/min; two of 14 cats were in respiratory distress. Mean animal trauma triage score was 2 (±2). Twelve cats survived to discharge, and two were euthanized due to a poor prognosis or financial constraints. POCUS included abdominal POCUS and pleural and lung ultrasound (PLUS) examinations. Abdominal POCUS was unremarkable in all cats. PLUS diagnosed pneumothorax in five of 14 cats (three unilateral, two bilateral) based on loss of lung sliding (5/5), presence of lung point (5/5), and presence of asynchronous curtain signs (2/5). The two cats in respiratory distress presented with bilateral pneumothorax and asynchronous curtain signs. PLUS identified coalescent B-lines in six cats and ventral lung consolidation in one. A combination of limb (n = 7), abdominal (n = 5), and thoracic (n = 9) radiographs were obtained. Abdominal radiographs were unremarkable. Limb and pelvic radiographs identified fractures in six cats (femoral, spinal, tibial, or pelvic). Thoracic radiographs identified three cats with pneumothorax and two with pulmonary contusions. Of the five cats that had pneumothorax identified on PLUS, three had pneumothorax identified on thoracic radiographs. Of the five cats with coalescent B-lines seen on PLUS, three had unremarkable thoracic radiographs, and two had findings consistent with pulmonary contusions.

CONCLUSIONS

This study describes POCUS and clinical findings in cats with high-rise syndrome and reports absent lung sliding in combination with lung point or asynchronous curtain signs to ultrasonographically support a diagnosis of pneumothorax. Thoracic radiographs failed to detect several abnormalities that were identified with PLUS.