Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with cardiac tamponade from pericardial mesothelioma
By Balli, A et al.·Published in Schweizer Archiv fur Tierheilkunde·2003·Abteilungen fü·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: [Cardiac tamponade due to pericardial mesothelioma in an 11-year-old dog: diagnosis, medical and interventional treatments].
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 11-year-old dog was brought in because he was having trouble exercising and had fluid buildup in his abdomen. After tests, the vet found he had cardiac tamponade, a serious condition where fluid around the heart affects its function, likely due to a type of cancer called mesothelioma. Despite several treatments, including draining the fluid and chemotherapy, the dog continued to struggle with breathing problems and had to be euthanized after five months. Unfortunately, the cancer had spread extensively, making recovery impossible.
People also search for: dog exercise intolerance · dog fluid in abdomen treatment · mesothelioma in dogs · dog breathing problems · dog cancer treatment options
Abstract
In a dog presenting with the clinical signs of exercise intolerance and ascites, cardiac tamponade due to suspected idiopathic pericarditis was diagnosed based on thoracic radiographs, electrocardiogram (EKG) and cardiac ultrasound. Pericardial effusion recurred soon after pericardiocenteses, prescription of colchizine and again after balloon pericardiotomy. After partial pericardectomy by thoracoscopy and after obtaining a histological diagnosis of mesothelioma adjuvant intracavitary chemotherapy using cisplatin was performed. Already one week later the dog developed marked dyspnea due to severe pleural effusion. The dog was maintained at acceptable life quality judged based on playfulness and appetite using repeated pleuro-centeses for an additional two months, when the dog was euthanized due to uncontrollable pleural effusion. Despite extensive treatments life span from initial presentation to euthanasia was only 5 months. Necropsy revealed extensive mesothelioma metastases covering the whole pleura, epicardium and remaining pericardium. Diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of (recurrent) pericardial effusion are discussed based on this case.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12649954/