Septic pericarditis and pericardial abscess secondary to a migrating foreign body in a dog.

Abstract

Abscess formation in the pericardial space has been described as a rare complication of trauma, congenital defects, penetrating foreign body, or extension of local myocardial infection in the dog. Presented here is a case of a juvenile dog with septic pericardial effusion secondary to an isolated intrapericardial abscess. Surgical pericardiectomy was successful in removing the abscess and nidus for septic effusion in this patient, and histopathology of the abscess tissue was suggestive of foreign plant material migration as the nidus for abscess formation. Recheck echocardiogram at the six-month postoperative period showed no recurrence of pericardial effusion or abscessation. Although abscess formation and septic pericarditis secondary to foreign body migration is an uncommon cause for large volume pericardial effusion, this should be considered as a differential particularly in a young and previously healthy dog.