Combined pentalogy of Cantrell with ectrodactyly and surgical implant-free repair of a sternal cleft and supraumbilical hernia in an adult cat

A 20-month-old, British shorthair cat was presented for treatment of a ventral thoracic wall defect. Physical examination showed cleft sternum with supraumbilical body wall defect, an immediately palpable heart under the skin between the cleft halves and a unilateral forelimb ectrodactyly. Survey radiographs and sonographic examination revealed ectopia cordis associated with the sternal cleft, a supraumbilical abdominal hernia, ventral diaphragmatic defect and cardiac abnormalities. Radiography of the dysostotic limb confirmed ectrodactyly. Surgery involved reconstruction of the ventral body wall defects using a transversus abdominis muscle flap supported by an omental flap. Clinical, imaging and intraoperative findings supported the diagnosis of complete pentalogy of Cantrell. The cat recovered from surgery uneventfully and periodic follow-ups to 17 months after surgery confirmed a good outcome.