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Fluid in Chest (Pleural Effusion) in Cats

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Treatment

 

Primary treatment will be to relieve respiratory distress by drawing fluid out of the chest cavity with a needle. The treatment that will follow depends on the definitive cause your veterinarian is able to diagnose. Insertion of indwelling chest tubes, thoracic (chest) surgery, and pleuroperitoneal shunts (diversion of pleural fluids) are common treatments. A pleuroperitoneal shunt is when the veterinarian places a catheter in the chest cavity to transfer its fluid to the abdominal cavity.

 

Living and Management

 

Your veterinarian will schedule follow-up appointments with you as needed to treat your cat’s underlying disease, if one is present. The prognosis is usually guarded to poor, although some cats will have a complete recovery of health.

 

 
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