Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with heart fluid and tamponade fixed by surgery
By Parra, Joshua L et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2009·Florida Veterinary Referral Center and 24-Hour Emergency and Critical Care, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade caused by intrapericardial granulation tissue in a dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
An 8-month-old Greater Swiss Mountain Dog was brought to the vet after two weeks of feeling very tired, having a swollen belly, and struggling to breathe. On the day of the visit, he collapsed suddenly. An ultrasound revealed a large cystic mass around his heart that was causing serious pressure on the heart (cardiac tamponade). The vet performed surgery to remove part of the pericardium (the sac around the heart), and afterward, the dog’s symptoms improved significantly. The mass was found to be granulation tissue, likely from a previous injury or infection.
People also search for: dog difficulty breathing · Greater Swiss Mountain Dog heart problems · dog surgery for pericardial effusion
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe and report successful surgical management of pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade in a dog caused by intrapericardial granulation tissue. CASE SUMMARY: An 8-month-old, intact male, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog was referred for cardiac evaluation following 2 weeks of progressive lethargy, abdominal distention, and difficulty breathing. On the day of presentation, the dog had an episode of acute collapse. A 14-cm multilocular pericardial cystic lesion causing collapse of the right atrial free wall and resulting in pericardial tamponade was observed on echocardiogram. After the dog subsequently experienced two acute episodes of pericardial effusion, a subtotal pericardectomy was performed and clinical signs resolved. The histopathologic diagnosis of the mass was inflammation and granulation tissue, likely caused by a resolving hematoma or abscess. NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: This is the first report of intrapericardial granulation tissue as the cause of pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19691570/