Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cat with heart displaced into abdomen fixed by surgery
By Lopez, Melinda M et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2015·Canada West Veterinary Specialists, Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cardiac malposition (ectopia cordis) in a cat.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old male British Shorthair cat was brought in for fluid buildup in the chest and signs of heart failure. Tests revealed that his heart was displaced into his abdomen due to a defect in the diaphragm. The veterinarian performed surgery to reposition the heart back into the chest and repair the diaphragm. After the surgery, the cat recovered well and showed improvement in his condition.
People also search for: cat heart failure symptoms · British Shorthair heart problems · cat surgery recovery time
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of cardiac malposition in a cat, and the successful management of the anomaly. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 2-year-old male neutered male British Shorthair cat weighing 7.58 kg was referred for bicavitary effusion. Ultrasonography and echocardiography demonstrated displacement of the heart into the abdomen through a diaphragmatic defect. Clinical signs of right-sided congestive heart failure were attributed to mechanical restriction of diastolic function by a constrictive segment of fibrous pericardium and to impaired venous return due to a kink in the caudal vena cava. Surgical repositioning of the heart into the thoracic cavity and a subtotal pericardectomy were performed, and the diaphragmatic defect was repaired. The patient recovered well postoperatively. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: The diagnosis and management of cardiac malposition has not been previously described in cats. With timely diagnosis and surgical intervention, a favorable outcome is possible.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26193979/