Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Kitten's heart vessel closed using Amplatzer plug device
By Baron Toaldo, M & Schreiber, N·Published in Schweizer Archiv fur Tierheilkunde·2025·Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Occlusion of a patent ductus arteriosus using an Amplatzer vascular plug II in a kitten.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A five-month-old kitten was brought in for treatment of a heart condition called patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), which can cause serious breathing problems. The veterinarian used a special device called an Amplatzer vascular plug II to close the PDA through a vein, rather than an artery, which is safer for small animals. The procedure was guided by imaging technology to ensure accuracy. The kitten recovered well and was able to go home the next day. This method shows that even small pets can successfully undergo this type of heart surgery.
People also search for: kitten heart condition treatment · patent ductus arteriosus in cats · Amplatzer plug for kittens
Abstract
A five-month-old kitten has been admitted to catheter assisted intravascular occlusion of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Considering the small size of the patient, and of the femoral artery, a transvenous approach through the femoral vein was attempted. The PDA could be successfully occluded using an embolization device called Amplatzer vascular plug II. This device can be deployed retrogradely through the venous system, using a catheter, that must be passed through the caudal vena cava, right atrium and ventricle, and pulmonary artery, reaching the PDA. The intervention was assisted by fluoroscopic and transesophageal echocardiographic guidance. The cat recovered uneventfully from the procedure, and it was discharged the following day. Transvenous embolization of PDA can be successfully performed also in small patients or animals with comparably small peripheral arteries, like cats.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40177863/