Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Heartworm removal using esophageal ultrasound in a dog with caval
By Cavaliere, Leonardo et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2017·From the Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Heartworm Removal Guided by Transesophageal Echocardiography in a Dog with Naturally Acquired Caval Syndrome.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 14-month-old Shih Tzu was brought to the vet because it was having trouble breathing, coughing up blood, and passing blood in its urine. Tests showed that the dog had heartworm disease with a serious condition called caval syndrome, which can happen when heartworms block blood flow. The vet used a special procedure guided by ultrasound to remove more than 94% of the heartworms without any complications during surgery. The dog was able to recover well after the treatment.
People also search for: dog heartworm treatment · Shih Tzu breathing problems · caval syndrome in dogs · heartworm removal procedure
Abstract
A 14 mo old shih tzu was referred for dyspnea, hemoptysis, and hematuria. Heartworm disease with caval syndrome was diagnosed by laboratory tests, thoracic radiography, and transthoracic echocardiography. The minimally invasive heartworm removal procedure was performed using flexible alligator forceps guided by transesophageal echocardiography. The procedure was successfully performed removing over 94% of heartworms displayed echocardiographically without any intraoperative complication.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27841684/