Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with swollen belly 8 months after pacemaker fixed by vein
By Stauthammer, Christopher et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary cardiology : the official journal of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology·2009·Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Caudal vena cava obstruction caused by redundant pacemaker lead in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old dog with a pacemaker developed swelling in the abdomen (ascites) eight months after the device was implanted. X-rays showed a loop of the pacemaker lead causing a blockage in a major blood vessel. Even after trying to remove the loop, the blockage remained due to scar tissue forming around it. However, a procedure called angioplasty successfully opened up the blocked vessel, restoring normal blood flow and resolving the dog's symptoms.
People also search for: dog pacemaker complications · dog ascites treatment · dog blood vessel blockage symptoms
Abstract
Inferior vena cava obstruction, a rare but serious complication of transvenous pacemaker lead placement in humans, has not been reported in dogs. We describe this complication in a dog that developed ascites 8 months after pacemaker implantation. Radiography disclosed a loop of redundant lead within the caudal vena cava (CVC), and angiography demonstrated obstruction to blood flow. Withdrawal of the loop from the CVC did not restore blood flow. Persistent obstruction was suspected secondary to fibrosis resulting from vascular damage caused by the loop of lead. Angioplasty of the CVC obstruction restored blood flow and resolved the dog's clinical signs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19703798/