Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Surgical treatment outcomes for dogs with idiopathic pericardial
By Aronsohn, M G & Carpenter, J L·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·1999·Department of Surgery, 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 We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above.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: Surgical treatment of idiopathic pericardial effusion in the dog: 25 cases (1978-1993).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 25 dogs with idiopathic pericardial effusion, a condition where fluid builds up around the heart, underwent surgery to remove the pericardial sac. Most of these dogs were large breeds, including 13 golden retrievers. While three dogs died shortly after surgery and four more within a year due to issues possibly related to their condition, the majority survived for at least 18 months post-surgery. In fact, 11 dogs were still alive after an average of over five years, showing that surgical treatment can be effective for this condition.
People also search for: dog pericardial effusion treatment · golden retriever heart problems · dog surgery recovery time
Abstract
Twenty-five cases of canine idiopathic pericardial effusion are described. All were treated surgically and underwent thoracotomy and pericardectomy, with histopathological evaluation of the resected pericardial sac. No tumor, infection, granulation tissue, or foreign body was found. Thirteen of the 25 dogs were golden retrievers, and all were large or giant breeds. Three (12%) died in the immediate postoperative period, and four (16%) died within one year of signs possibly related to the original condition. Eighteen (72%) survived at least 18 months; seven died or were euthanized for reasons unrelated to pericardial effusion (median, 44 months); and 11 were still alive at last contact (median, 61 months).
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/10580914/