Original Research

Diagnostic imaging of migrating kebab (sosatie) sticks – a review of 8 cases

N. Stander, R. M. Kirberger
Journal of the South African Veterinary Association | Vol 82, No 3 | a62 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v82i3.62 | © 2011 N. Stander, R. M. Kirberger | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 11 April 2011 | Published: 13 April 2011

About the author(s)

N. Stander, Diagnostic Imaging Section, Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa., South Africa
R. M. Kirberger, Diagnostic Imaging Section, Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa., South Africa

Full Text:

PDF (408KB)

Abstract

Complications related to extraluminal migration of ingested kebab (sosatie) sticks are infrequently diagnosed in small animals. A total of 8 cases diagnosed with extragastric migration of ingested kebab sticks were retrospectively evaluated. No significant breed or sex predilection was found but there was a tendency for animals to present at a younger age (less than 3 years). Clinical signs (of variable duration) were non-specific and included haemoptysis, abdominal pain, regurgitation, subcutaneous abscessation and chronic draining sinus tracts, making a clinical diagnosis difficult. Ultrasonography proved invaluable in facilitating the diagnosis of kebab stick migration in 6 of the cases and computed tomography unexpectedly identified a kebab stick that had migrated into the thorax in 1 patient. Survey radiography was generally found to be insensitive in identifying the kebab sticks. The aim of this article is to alert veterinarians to a clinical syndrome that may not be considered a differential diagnosis in patients with non-specific inflammatory disease of the thorax, abdomen or pelvic regions and to illustrate the usefulness of the various diagnostic imaging modalities in facilitating a diagnosis of kebab stick ingestion and its possible secondary complications.

Keywords

No related keywords in the metadata.

Metrics

Total abstract views: 3478
Total article views: 3387

 

Crossref Citations

1. Laparoscopic removal of a large abdominal foreign body granuloma using single incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) and extraction bag in a cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)
Marthinus Jacobus Hartman, Robert Murco Kirberger, Adrian Stephen Wolferstan Tordiffe, Sonja Boy, Johan Petrus Schoeman
Veterinary Record Case Reports  vol: 3  issue: 1  year: 2015  
doi: 10.1136/vetreccr-2014-000162