Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with heart murmur diagnosed with artery to atrium fistula by echo
By Jacobs, G J et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·1996·Department of Small Animal Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Diagnosis of right coronary artery to right atrial fistula in a dog using two-dimensional echocardiography.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old boxer developed serious heart issues, including a heart murmur, complete heart block, and an enlarged heart due to a bacterial infection affecting the heart valves. An ultrasound of the heart revealed abnormal growths on the valves and a connection (fistula) between the coronary artery and the right atrium. Unfortunately, despite medical treatment, the dog passed away, and a post-mortem confirmed the findings from the ultrasound. This case highlights a rare and severe condition in dogs related to heart infections.
People also search for: dog heart murmur treatment · boxer heart problems · bacterial endocarditis in dogs
Abstract
A five-year-old boxer dog developed cardiac murmurs, complete heart block and cardiomegaly associated with vegetative bacterial endocarditis. Using two-dimensional echocardiography, vegetative lesions of the aortic valves and extension of the vegetations into the proximal right coronary artery and adjacent atrial septum were identified. The vegetation within the atrial septum appeared as a cavitated mass which protruded into the right atrium. Fistulae within the atrial septal vegetation permitting communication between the coronary artery and right atrium were observed with colour Doppler echocardiography. The dog died despite medical treatment. Post mortem examination confirmed the echocardiographic findings. Vegetative endocarditis with invasion into the right coronary artery and atrial septum producing fistulae and communication with the right atrium has not been reported previously in dogs. Doppler echocardiography proved useful in demonstrating the abnormal anatomy, intraluminal fistular blood flow and its communication with the right atrium.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8872940/