Allen J, Peterson N, Barrett K, Llamas A. Graded balloon atrial septostomy for palliation of congenital pulmonary hypertension in a dog: A case report.
J Vet Intern Med 2019;
34:283-288. [PMID:
31769097 PMCID:
PMC6979104 DOI:
10.1111/jvim.15666]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
CASE DESCRIPTION
A 6-month-old intact female Maltese dog was presented for acute onset of syncope.
CLINICAL FINDINGS
The dog was presented for collapse upon excitement and exercise. It collapsed at discharge and suffered cardiopulmonary arrest. Echocardiography after resuscitation indicated severe pulmonary hypertension without evidence of intracardiac or extracardiac shunting. A presumptive diagnosis of congenital pulmonary hypertension was made.
TREATMENT AND OUTCOME
Initial treatment with sildenafil was effective at relieving syncope, but the extent of pulmonary hypertension as determined by serial echocardiography was unchanged. Graded balloon atrial septostomy was performed as a palliative procedure. Follow-up echocardiography identified a patent interatrial communication with bidirectional shunting. The dog remained asymptomatic 18 months after treatment.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE
To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report in the veterinary literature of graded balloon atrial septostomy performed for therapeutic purposes. Further studies are required to determine if this palliative procedure is a beneficial treatment option for dogs with congenital or severe refractory pulmonary hypertension.
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