Pectus Excavatum

mani

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Hi... Does anyone have any experience of Pectus Excavatum (funnel chest)? 
 

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I've not heard of a cat with this problem. But there was someone on TCS with this problem. As I recall, because the rib cage restricted her lungs/breathing, exercise was an issue. There may have been some other issues. She had surgery to correct the problem, and I BELIEVE some type of pins or metal support was used? But it was a great success, and she felt much, much better! I'll see if I can find the thread, even though it was the experience in a person. It was some years ago, but I'll search for it to see if I can find it. The words Pectus Excavatum weren't used though.
 
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mani

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Thanks, LDG. 

The more I research it, the more I find that people can confuse PE with flat chest.  From what I can find out, flat chested kittens tend to survive if they make it past about 6 weeks of age, but with PE, where the ribs almost fold into the thoracic cavity, you don't really know until they are fully grown.

This is quite a good link: http://www.definitive-ragdollcat.co.uk/page_573001.html

I'm wondering if anyone has had a kitten with PE that has survived, or for that matter, hasn't survived?

There is surgery that can be done but it costs thousands of dollars and is not available here...
 
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mani

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Just brought Sundar back from the vet ... she is most impressed with him! He was 1.1 kilo at 3 months, and 1.6 now (a month later).  She says she feels (and I agree) that his chest is a little less compressed than before.  And he's certainly a happy boy!

We'll wait the full 6 months before neutering to make sure his lungs are up to the anaesthetic.

I think he's going to make it!
 
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mani

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I tried to take a shot showing the indentation that is typical of Pectus Excavatum... it  wasn't possible to take the photo that would show it as Sundar really didn't want to co-operate.

But I couldn't resist posting what I did take.. ... He looks like he's saying "cut it out, it tickles!!"

 
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mani

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plebayo

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The clinic I work at works with a rescue and I believe we worked on a kitten with this problem. We got some weird plastic type material that I believe when put in warm water could be molded. The vet basically made a chest plate and sutured it into the kitten's chest. I think after a couple of weeks they either tightened the suture... they did something and basically as the kitten grew it pulled the ribcage out so that the kitten could continue on with her life. Her chest was so concave I think her heart was being pressed into her lungs among other things. She survived the surgery and recovered very well and was fine once the plate was removed.
 
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mani

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Nope! It just hurts a little to breathe when I'm growing. Which since I'm 19 isn't all that often anymore. Never caused any heart arrhythmia or anything like that.

I hope it continues to be OK for you.. sounds like you've made it through without surgery?

I'm sure there are degrees of it, with both humans and kittens.
 
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mani

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The clinic I work at works with a rescue and I believe we worked on a kitten with this problem. We got some weird plastic type material that I believe when put in warm water could be molded. The vet basically made a chest plate and sutured it into the kitten's chest. I think after a couple of weeks they either tightened the suture... they did something and basically as the kitten grew it pulled the ribcage out so that the kitten could continue on with her life. Her chest was so concave I think her heart was being pressed into her lungs among other things. She survived the surgery and recovered very well and was fine once the plate was removed.
Yes, when I was researching it, that procedure came up a lot... it seems to be something you do in the States.. I couldn't find anywhere that does it in Australia and has to be done in the really early, formative stages. (I looked into it when I first got him). 

It's wonderful to know that a rescue kitten received that kind of treatment, as I think it would be very expensive.

My vet and I are hoping that the stretching and exercising I do with him, and just his own resiliance, will see him through.  He's certainly a happy and very naughty boy, which is always a good sign
 

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There was a member here, Jacky, mews2much, that has a kitty with FCKS/Flat Chest Kitten Syndrome. Are you sure your baby has PE and not FCKS? Sometimes they are mistaken for each other....
Jacky's kitty is Oreo, and I believe she is 9 (as in years old). She does have a tilted heart, but does just fine.

Hopefully your baby will be just fine too!!! :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
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mani

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There was a member here, Jacky, mews2much, that has a kitty with FCKS/Flat Chest Kitten Syndrome. Are you sure your baby has PE and not FCKS? Sometimes they are mistaken for each other....
Jacky's kitty is Oreo, and I believe she is 9 (as in years old). She does have a tilted heart, but does just fine.
Hopefully your baby will be just fine too!!!
I was told by the person I took the little boy from that he had Flat Chest Syndrome.  With that, it seems, if the kitten makes it past a very young age, then it will do ok.  With PE, they can have problems later, as the organs grow. 

My boy has FCKS, but also has PE.. you can quite clearly feel the indentation in his chest (that I was trying to photograph) and his ribs are flat and then fold inwards. And there is an obvious spinal issue that can go with PE. He does really well, but I can see his breath is laboured after he's had a really good romp with my older girl, or just done his manic kitten race around the house thing.

Thank you for the good wishes.  When I took him everyone thought it was to just give him a good short life as all his littermates died and the prognosis for him wasn't good.  But he is doing so well I have great hopes for him now.
 

speakhandsforme

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I hope it continues to be OK for you.. sounds like you've made it through without surgery?
I'm sure there are degrees of it, with both humans and kittens.
No, I didn't have the surgery. They suggested it when I was a toddler but my parents said no, since it is really painful and the costs sort of outweighed the benefits.

I hope Sundar is doing well!
 
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mani

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No, I didn't have the surgery. They suggested it when I was a toddler but my parents said no, since it is really painful and the costs sort of outweighed the benefits.
I hope Sundar is doing well!

Yes, I had heard that the surgery was no fun (for humans, and I guess for pussycats). 

You're obviously doing well and it should stay that way now that you're grown.  Do you do physiotherapy?  Breathing practices? (I'm a yoga teacher and I'm really interested in this as we're big on diaphragms/breathing etc)
 

speakhandsforme

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I never had to do anything like that. I actually do yoga and exercise at the gym, and it has never affected me at all. But I imagine if it was more severe, it could certainly limit someone in those types of activities. :nod:
 
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mani

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Well I hope my little boy is the same.... 


I do have him doing yoga
 

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Our rescue kitten (almost four months old) has just been diagnosed w/ PE. He's completely asymptomatic except for the occasional odd cough. On X-rays though, the indentation is pretty significant and his heart is shifted to the right side to accomodate the funnel shape of his ribs.
I was wondering what had happened w/ your kitten as he grew older.
Our Jack is hyperkitten on steroids (he takes on our three adult NFCs as well as his very active cousin kitten and has *them* all panting in exhaustion while he's still dancing around saying, "Bring it on, man") and the idea of him in a cast for six weeks (I've read that it chafes) is unthinkable.
Our vet suggests that we just watch his progress. He's got such a sweet personality, too, and I'm afraid a traumatic experience w/ prolonged pain and immobilization will warp him in some way.
 
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