At the University Veterinary Clinic, an operation to remove a meningioma was performed on a cat for the first time

The first brave person, who has already successfully recovered from the operation, is the 14-year-old cat Lūsis, who lives in Riga. His owner, Oksana Šalare, says that Lusis was a street cat, which she gradually tamed and brought home last summer. Already at that time, the owner noticed that Lucy had discharge from her eyes and nose. Even after home care, they have not subsided and the first neurological symptoms appeared in January, and in February incoordination and seizures. The owner immediately took action and went to the veterinary clinic “Toto” to the veterinarian Zane Kalniņa. Since the situation has worsened drastically, the doctor has sent Lucy to the LBTU Veterinary Clinic to perform a CT scan of her head.

The patient was admitted to the LBTU Veterinary Clinic by a veterinarian, assistant professor Armands Vekshins, who, during a computed tomography examination, diagnosed an intracranial tumor, as the findings were typical of a meningioma.

“A meningioma arises from the covering of the brain and spinal cord, meaning that the tumor is not of the brain itself but of the covering of the brain, however it can extend into the brain and cause serious damage. In most cases, meningiomas are benign, so surgery is usually expected to have a positive outcome. So far, such operations have not been performed at the LBTU Veterinary Clinic, however, realizing the clinic’s capabilities and the animal owner’s desire to help the cat, it was decided to perform the operation,” says A. Vekshins.

The docent reveals that the operation lasted two hours and the team consisted of veterinarians Irita Cirīte, Sofija Isajeva, veterinary anesthesiologist Laura Voiko, assisted by Ilze Jansone, and students who participated as observers. The operation was successful and the entire tumor was removed. After the operation, Lusis was said to have been depressed in the hospital, and gradually began to recover his vision, which had been lost before. Seizures were no longer observed, physiological indicators were within the normal range, but an extremely calm approach was necessary so that the cats were not disturbed and could feed.

“More than a month has passed since the operation, and Lusis has now remained more active – he is jumping, his vision has returned, he has opened up and was active around the house much more than in the whole year before the operation. It seems that a new world has opened up for him. It is a gift from God. I express my immense gratitude to all involved doctors for their invested work and energy! Thanks to both surgeons and the entire surgical unit for their professional courage! Thank you to the entire hospital for the “crystal care”, because I know how much they cared for him, cuddled him, warmed him, gave him medicine, comforted him,” says Luša’s owner.

On the other hand, the director of the LBTU Veterinary Clinic, Elīna Kanka, expresses her gratitude to Lūš’s owner for her perseverance, successful cooperation with the “Toto” veterinary clinic, and also expresses great satisfaction for the involvement, courage and development of the field of neurology by the team of the university clinic.

The LBTU Veterinary Clinic is a place of study and research in veterinary medicine at the university, where it provides veterinary services and implementation of the reference function, clinical research and training of future veterinarians.