Medical and surgical management of gallbladder sludge and mucocoele development in a Miniature Schnauzer

Publication date: Available online 20 April 2017 Source:International Journal of Veterinary Science and Medicine Author(s): Harvey Saunders, Laura A. Thornton, Richard Burchell The patient in this case is that of a 7-year-old female spayed Miniature Schnauzer that was presented to the Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for progressive lethargy, inappetance and abdominal discomfort. Initial physical examination findings revealed a moderate degree of cranial abdominal pain, with subsequent diagnostic tests confirming the patient as having diabetes mellitus, with a concurrent marked hypertriglyceridaemia. In an attempt to localise the source of pain, an ultrasound examination of the abdomen was performed, revealing a marked degree of gallbladder sludge. With appropriate medical management including ursodeoxycholic acid and insulin therapy, the patient stabilised and was discharged. With persistence of clinical signs three months later, progression of the gallbladder sludge towards mucocoele development was suspected. Exploratory laparotomy was instigated, and an emergency cholecystectomy performed. This case report therefore entails a suspected gallbladder mucocoele that developed in a diabetic patient with previously diagnosed biliary sludge. A unique feature of this case report is the presence of diabetes mellitus, which has been suggested to be a causative factor in the development of gallbladder mucocoeles. It is also hypothesised that gallbladder sludge and...
Source: International Journal of Veterinary Science and Medicine - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research