Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Blood clots in chest veins linked to heart pacemakers in dogs
By Murray, John D et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2010·Department of Clinical Studies, Canada·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cranial vena caval thrombosis associated with endocardial pacing leads in three dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Three dogs developed serious health issues years after getting heart pacemakers, showing symptoms of cranial vena caval syndrome, which can cause swelling and breathing problems. Tests revealed blood clots in their cranial vena cava, and while two dogs were treated with medication, only one survived for a few weeks. One dog had surgery to remove the clots but sadly did not make it through the operation. This situation highlights the risks associated with pacemaker leads in dogs, as it can lead to severe complications.
People also search for: dog heart pacemaker complications · cranial vena caval syndrome in dogs · dog blood clots treatment
Abstract
Three dogs were examined several years following implantation of transvenous, single-lead, endocardial, right-ventricular permanent pacing systems for signs consistent with cranial vena caval syndrome. Angiograms performed in all dogs revealed filling defects within the cranial vena cava and, in some instances, intracardiac filling defects. Medical therapy was instituted in two dogs, with one surviving several weeks. One dog underwent surgery to address intra-cardiac thrombosis but did not survive the immediate postoperative period. Postmortem examinations were performed in two dogs and confirmed cranial vena caval and intracardiac thrombosis. Cranial vena caval thrombosis associated with transvenous pacing leads appears to carry significant morbidity and mortality.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20439942/