Hernia Between the Pericardium and Peritoneum in Cats

PetMD Editorial

Published Mar. 19, 2010

Peritoneopericardial Diaphragmatic Hernia in Cats

Peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia is a congenital defect that affects the communication between the peritoneum (membrane that forms the lining of abdominal cavity) and pericardium (double-wall sac containing the heart). Like other hernias, the protrusion of the septum affects the surrounding area -- in this case, the abdomen.

Symptoms and Types

Symptoms will largely depend on the amount on the amount and nature of abdominal contents herniated. Some common ones include:

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Cough
Weight loss
Difficult breathing

Causes

Peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia occurs at the embryologic stage, and is considered a prenatal defect.

Diagnosis

You will need to give a thorough history of your cat’s health, including the onset and nature of the symptoms, to your veterinarian. He or she will then perform a complete physical examination, as well a biochemistry profile, urinalysis, and complete blood count (CBC) -- the results of which are typically normal.

Abnormalities visible on X-rays ultimately depend on size and amount of herniated abdominal contents. More advanced techniques, like contrast peritoneography, are also used for a more detailed evaluation, whereby contrast medium (chemical) is given by injection into the peritoneal cavity and then X-rayed at different angles. Another technique commonly employed for confirmation of diagnosis is echocardiography.

Treatment

Surgery is typically required to close the hernia and place the viable organs to their normal location. However, if found in adult cats displaying no adverse symptoms, no treatment is required.