Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Heartworm caval syndrome in dogs improving with medical stabilization
By Pariaut, Romain et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2020·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Resolution of caval syndrome during initial hemodynamic stabilization in dogs with heartworm disease.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Five dogs with heartworm disease and caval syndrome (a serious condition caused by heartworms blocking blood flow) were treated with medications and supportive care to stabilize their condition before heartworm removal. They received sildenafil, fluids, oxygen therapy, and some were given pimobendan to help improve heart function. Remarkably, two hours to five days after starting treatment, some heartworms moved back into the lungs, leading to a spontaneous improvement in their symptoms. While this approach showed some unexpected positive results, it is not yet clear if it is a reliable alternative to standard treatment for caval syndrome.
People also search for: dog heartworm disease treatment · caval syndrome in dogs · heartworm removal surgery for dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To report on the spontaneous resolution of caval syndrome in 5 dogs selected for their response to medical stabilization prior to scheduled heartworm extraction. SERIES SUMMARY: Five dogs with heartworm caval syndrome were treated with sildenafil, fluid, and supplemental oxygen therapy. Moreover, 4 of 5 dogs were also administered pimobendan to achieve hemodynamic stabilization in preparation for percutaneous heartworm extraction. Spontaneous heartworm migration back into the pulmonary arteries was detected from 2 h to 5 days after treatment initiation. UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED: Unanticipated spontaneous resolution of caval syndrome was documented in a low number of dogs after initiation of a patient stabilization protocol aiming at improving right ventricular hemodynamics and reducing pulmonary artery pressure prior to scheduled heartworm extraction. At this time, it is unknown if intervention to improve the hemodynamic status of the animal prior to heartworm extraction improves procedure outcome, and which factors contributed to the migration of the heartworms back into the pulmonary arteries in these selected cases. Therefore, this approach cannot be recommended in place of current recommendations for treatment of caval syndrome.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32077239/