Grogu, a 10-week-old kitten, has been diagnosed with persistent right aortic arch (PRAA), a congenital condition that has caused megaesophagus and makes eating difficult, according to Happy Tailz Cat Rescue, Inc. The kitten weighed 1.2 pounds at the time of the rescue's update.
The rescue said Grogu was born on August 14 at a cattery in Georgia that later shut down. A Good Samaritan contacted Happy Tailz Cat Rescue about the kitten, and the organization agreed to take him in.
The rescue said Grogu has tested negative for FIV and FeLV. A barium X-ray study helped confirm the problem affecting his esophagus. The next steps include specialist consultations and advanced imaging, and the rescue has discussed a CT angiogram.
If Grogu is considered a suitable surgical candidate, the procedure would involve opening his chest to access the vascular ring and dividing the ligamentum arteriosum. The rescue describes the planned operation as thoracic surgery to correct a vascular ring anomaly rather than conventional open-heart surgery. After surgery, he would need hospitalization and close monitoring.
The rescue