Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Eisenmenger's complex causing exercise intolerance
By Gavaghan, B J et al.·Published in Australian veterinary journal·2001·Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Eisenmenger's complex in a Holstein-Friesian cow.
- Species:
- cattle
Plain-English summary
A 4.5-year-old Holstein-Friesian cow was brought in because she was extremely tired and unable to exercise for the past month. Tests showed she had a large mass in her abdomen and serious heart issues, including a defect in the heart wall that caused blood to flow incorrectly. Unfortunately, her condition, known as Eisenmenger's complex, was severe, and she was euthanized to prevent further suffering. A post-mortem examination confirmed the heart problems and revealed an infection in her heart and abdomen.
People also search for: cow exercise intolerance · Holstein heart problems · cow euthanasia reasons
Abstract
A 4.5-year-old, Holstein-Friesian cow presented with a 1-month history of severe exercise intolerance. Rectal examination and transrectal ultrasonography revealed a large mass in the left retroperitoneum. The heart rate was 70 to 80/min. Premature ventricular complexes and ventricular bigeminy were present on an electrocardiogram. Erythrocytosis was present and blood gas analysis revealed marked hypoxaemia. An echocardiogram demonstrated a large ventricular septal defect, a partially dextroposed aorta, and concentric hypertrophy of the right ventricular free wall. Colour flow Doppler echocardiography and a contrast echocardiographic study demonstrated a right-to-left shunt through the ventricular septal defect. Eisenmenger's complex was diagnosed. The patient was euthanased. Necropsy confirmed the gross cardiac lesions identified by echocardiography and an abscess in the apex of the left ventricle. Severe pulmonary arterial lesions were present, consistent with a marked increased in pulmonary vascular resistance. Actinomyces pyogenes was cultured from abscesses of the retroperitoneum and the ventricular apex.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11221567/