title: Post-mortem findings in 54 cases of anesthetic associated death in cats from two spay-neuter programs in New York State.
abstract: Anesthetic-associated death (AAD) in cats is infrequent, but occurs far more frequently than in people. Post-mortem investigations of AAD in cats are uncommon, and results only sporadically published. Here we report the findings in 54 cases of AAD in cats. Significant gross and/or microscopic pre-existing disease, including pulmonary, cardiac, and systemic disease, was detected in 33% of cases. Pulmonary disease was most frequently diagnosed (24% of cases), and included cases of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infection (9% of cases). Heart disease, including two cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, was less frequent (11% of cases). Four percent died from surgical complications. No significant gross or microscopic disease was detected in 63% of cases. Additional studies are needed to determine if these findings are representative of AAD in cats in other geographic areas or with access to veterinary care. This study demonstrates that post-mortem investigation of AADs is an important and worthwhile endeavor.
authors: Department of Anatomic Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. jag56@cornell.edu
authors: Jodie A
authors: JA
authors: Gerdin
authors: Margaret R
authors: MR
authors: Slater
authors: Kathleen V
authors: KV
authors: Makolinski
authors: Andrea L
authors: AL
authors: Looney
authors: Leslie D
authors: LD
authors: Appel
authors: Nicole M
authors: NM
authors: Martin
authors: Sean P
authors: SP
authors: McDonough
mesh_terms: D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001344:Autopsy / Q000662:veterinary; D002369:Castration / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies