Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Surgery for dogs with mitral valve problems - what to expect
By Griffiths, Leigh G et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2004·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evaluation of techniques and outcomes of mitral valve repair in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 8-year-old mixed-breed dog was diagnosed with severe mitral regurgitation, which caused congestive heart failure (CHF) and symptoms like coughing and difficulty breathing. The dog underwent surgery to repair the mitral valve using various techniques, including placing artificial chordae and edge-to-edge repair. After the surgery, 12 out of 18 dogs survived, and many experienced a significant improvement in their heart function and resolution of CHF for up to three years. This suggests that mitral valve repair can be effective, especially for dogs over 10 kg and treated early in their CHF diagnosis.
People also search for: dog mitral valve surgery · congestive heart failure in dogs · mitral regurgitation treatment for dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe surgical techniques for and assess outcome of treatment of mitral regurgitation in dogs. DESIGN: Uncontrolled prospective study. ANIMALS: 18 dogs with naturally occurring mitral regurgitation. PROCEDURE: All dogs weighed > 5 kg (11 lb) and had severe mitral regurgitation, congestive heart failure (CHF), and no serious noncardiac disease. Left ventricular volume indices, left atrial size, and degree of mitral regurgitation were determined echocardiographically before and after surgery. Repair techniques included circumferential annuloplasty, placement of artificial chordae, chordal fenestration and papillary muscle splitting, and edge-to-edge repair. Factors predictive for surgery survival and resolution of CHF were determined. RESULTS: 12 dogs survived surgery. Factors predictive for surgery survival included weight > 10 kg (22 lb) and CHF of less than 6 months' duration. In 9 dogs, CHF resolved for a median period of 1 year (range, 4 months to 3 years) after surgery. One dog had stable CHF at 12 months. One dog died as a result of progressive CHF; another was euthanatized for a noncardiac reason. Left ventricular diastolic volume index was 226.9 +/- 117.7 cm3/m2 before surgery and 134.9 +/- 70.4 cm3/m2 at 6 months after surgery (n = 10). Factors predictive for resolution of CHF included left ventricular diastolic volume index < 250 cm3/m2 and systolic volume index < 70 cm3/m2. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Mitral valve repair may resolve CHF in dogs with severe mitral regurgitation, particularly in dogs that weigh > 10 kg and are treated within 6 months of the onset of CHF.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15230448/