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A 12-year old Himalayan cat presents to an emergency clinic with a 2-day history of progressive dyspnea. The cat is an indoor-outdoor cat and was previously healthy. It is currently not on any medications and is up to date on all vaccinations. On physical examination the cat appears stressed and is intermittently open-mouth breathing. On auscultation of the chest there are decreased heart sounds and lung sounds. There are no obvious murmurs noted. The patient appears to be taking rapid, shallow, breaths. Radiographs confirm the presence of pleural effusion and the owners consent to a thoracocentesis which yields a clear-to-milky white fluid. Which of the following comparisons will you make to confirm the presence of chylothorax?

Please select an option Correct! The pleural fluid obtained has a milky white appearance as a result of its high triglyceride content. Any patient that has an effusion triglyceride content higher than that of the serum is considered to have a chylothorax. Chyle is lymphatic fluid which contains a high quantity of fat. Abnormal flow or pressures in the thoracic duct are thought to cause exudation of chyle from lymphatic vessels into the thorax. The presence of chylomicrons in the sample, a cholesterol content greater than or equal to that of the serum, and a positive ether clearance test are also supportive chylothorax. Chylous fluid is typically white to pink in color, opaque and can have a variable specific gravity (1.019-1.050 in the cat). The protein level is variable (2.6-10.3 g/dL) and the white blood cell count can be over 7,000 cells/ul. A decreased glucose compared to that of serum is consistent with an infectious etiology. Lactate elevations can be expected in any patient that is undergoing anaerobic metabolism and a difference in lactate levels between the chyle and serum is not diagnostic for chylothorax. Alkaline phosphatase levels will not help in the diagnosis of chylothorax. In cats, the Siamese and Himalayans are predisposed. WikiVet Article: Chylous Effusion Incorrect. The pleural fluid obtained has a milky white appearance as a result of its high triglyceride content. Any patient that has an effusion triglyceride content higher than that of the serum is considered to have a chylothorax. Chyle is lymphatic fluid which contains a high quantity of fat. Abnormal flow or pressures in the thoracic duct are thought to cause exudation of chyle from lymphatic vessels into the thorax. The presence of chylomicrons in the sample, a cholesterol content greater than or equal to that of the serum, and a positive ether clearance test are also supportive chylothorax. Chylous fluid is typically white to pink in color, opaque and can have a variable specific gravity (1.019-1.050 in the cat). The protein level is variable (2.6-10.3 g/dL) and the white blood cell count can be over 7,000 cells/ul. A decreased glucose compared to that of serum is consistent with an infectious etiology. Lactate elevations can be expected in any patient that is undergoing anaerobic metabolism and a difference in lactate levels between the chyle and serum is not diagnostic for chylothorax. Alkaline phosphatase levels will not help in the diagnosis of chylothorax. In cats, the Siamese and Himalayans are predisposed. WikiVet Article: Chylous Effusion Incorrect. The pleural fluid obtained has a milky white appearance as a result of its high triglyceride content. Any patient that has an effusion triglyceride content higher than that of the serum is considered to have a chylothorax. Chyle is lymphatic fluid which contains a high quantity of fat. Abnormal flow or pressures in the thoracic duct are thought to cause exudation of chyle from lymphatic vessels into the thorax. The presence of chylomicrons in the sample, a cholesterol content greater than or equal to that of the serum, and a positive ether clearance test are also supportive chylothorax. Chylous fluid is typically white to pink in color, opaque and can have a variable specific gravity (1.019-1.050 in the cat). The protein level is variable (2.6-10.3 g/dL) and the white blood cell count can be over 7,000 cells/ul. A decreased glucose compared to that of serum is consistent with an infectious etiology. Lactate elevations can be expected in any patient that is undergoing anaerobic metabolism and a difference in lactate levels between the chyle and serum is not diagnostic for chylothorax. Alkaline phosphatase levels will not help in the diagnosis of chylothorax. In cats, the Siamese and Himalayans are predisposed. WikiVet Article: Chylous Effusion Incorrect. The pleural fluid obtained has a milky white appearance as a result of its high triglyceride content. Any patient that has an effusion triglyceride content higher than that of the serum is considered to have a chylothorax. Chyle is lymphatic fluid which contains a high quantity of fat. Abnormal flow or pressures in the thoracic duct are thought to cause exudation of chyle from lymphatic vessels into the thorax. The presence of chylomicrons in the sample, a cholesterol content greater than or equal to that of the serum, and a positive ether clearance test are also supportive chylothorax. Chylous fluid is typically white to pink in color, opaque and can have a variable specific gravity (1.019-1.050 in the cat). The protein level is variable (2.6-10.3 g/dL) and the white blood cell count can be over 7,000 cells/ul. A decreased glucose compared to that of serum is consistent with an infectious etiology. Lactate elevations can be expected in any patient that is undergoing anaerobic metabolism and a difference in lactate levels between the chyle and serum is not diagnostic for chylothorax. Alkaline phosphatase levels will not help in the diagnosis of chylothorax. In cats, the Siamese and Himalayans are predisposed. WikiVet Article: Chylous Effusion

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