Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Balloon valvuloplasty of valvular pulmonary stenosis in a neonatal foal.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary cardiology : the official journal of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology
- Year:
- 2021
- Authors:
- Junge, H K et al.
- Affiliation:
- Clinic for Equine Internal Medicine
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 1-day-old female foal was found to have a loud heart murmur, and tests showed that her heart's right ventricle was enlarged due to a serious condition called pulmonary valvular stenosis (narrowing of the valve that controls blood flow from the heart to the lungs). A special imaging test confirmed this issue, and no other problems were found. The foal underwent a procedure called balloon valvuloplasty, which helped widen the narrowed valve. After the treatment, her heart function improved significantly, and follow-up exams over the next two years showed that she was doing well and had normal exercise ability. The treatment was successful in improving her condition.
Abstract
In a 1-day old filly with a loud heart murmur, transthoracic echocardiography revealed right ventricular hypertrophy associated with severe pulmonary valvular stenosis and a transvalvular pressure gradient (between right ventricle and pulmonary artery) of 125 mmHg. Computed tomographic angiography confirmed the finding, with no evidence of other relevant concurrent abnormalities. Balloon valvuloplasty was performed using a single balloon technique. The foal recovered well from anaesthesia. Following the procedure, the right ventricle-pulmonary artery transvalvular gradient decreased to 38 mmHg. At follow up examinations after 1 month, 1 year and 2 years, the filly showed normal exercise capacity and echocardiography confirmed the persistent substantial improvement in the transvalvular outflow gradient.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34077876/