Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Balloon procedure to ease lung blood pressure in a young Maltese dog
By Justin Allen et al.·Published in Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine·2020·VCA West Los Angeles Los Angeles California, GB·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Graded balloon atrial septostomy for palliation of congenital pulmonary hypertension in a dog: A case report
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 6-month-old female Maltese was brought in after collapsing during play and experiencing fainting spells. She was diagnosed with severe pulmonary hypertension, a serious condition affecting blood flow in the lungs. Initially, a medication called sildenafil helped reduce her fainting episodes, but it didn't improve her condition significantly. To provide relief, veterinarians performed a procedure called graded balloon atrial septostomy, which created a small opening in the heart to improve blood flow. Eighteen months later, the dog was doing well and showed no symptoms of her previous condition.
People also search for: Maltese dog fainting · pulmonary hypertension treatment in dogs · balloon atrial septostomy for dogs
Abstract
Abstract Case Description A 6‐month‐old intact female Maltese dog was presented for acute onset of syncope. Clinical Findings The dog was presented for collapse upon excitement and exercise. It collapsed at discharge and suffered cardiopulmonary arrest. Echocardiography after resuscitation indicated severe pulmonary hypertension without evidence of intracardiac or extracardiac shunting. A presumptive diagnosis of congenital pulmonary hypertension was made. Treatment and Outcome Initial treatment with sildenafil was effective at relieving syncope, but the extent of pulmonary hypertension as determined by serial echocardiography was unchanged. Graded balloon atrial septostomy was performed as a palliative procedure. Follow‐up echocardiography identified a patent interatrial communication with bidirectional shunting. The dog remained asymptomatic 18 months after treatment. Clinical Relevance To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report in the veterinary literature of graded balloon atrial septostomy performed for therapeutic purposes. Further studies are required to determine if this palliative procedure is a beneficial treatment option for dogs with congenital or severe refractory pulmonary hypertension.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15666