Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Survival times in young dogs with severe aortic stenosis
By Meurs, Kathryn M et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2005·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Survival times in dogs with severe subvalvular aortic stenosis treated with balloon valvuloplasty or atenolol.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 38 dogs under 2 years old with severe subvalvular aortic stenosis (a heart condition) were treated either with a procedure called balloon valvuloplasty or with a medication called atenolol. After the balloon procedure, the dogs showed a significant drop in heart pressure, but when looking at how long the dogs lived, there was no big difference between those who had the procedure and those who just took the medication. Both groups had similar median survival times of about 55 to 56 months. This suggests that while the balloon treatment can help with heart pressure, it doesn't necessarily lead to longer life compared to medication alone.
People also search for: dog heart condition treatment · balloon valvuloplasty for dogs · atenolol for dog heart problems
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine survival times in dogs with severe subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS) treated by means of balloon valvuloplasty or with atenolol, a beta-adrenoceptor blocking drug. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 38 dogs < 24 months old with severe SAS (peak systolic pressure gradient > or = 80 mm Hg). PROCEDURE: 10 dogs underwent balloon valvuloplasty and were reexamined 6 weeks later to determine the feasibility of the procedure. The remaining 28 dogs were randomly assigned to undergo balloon valvuloplasty (n = 15) or to be treated with atenolol long term (13) and were reexamined annually for 9 years or until the time of death. RESULTS: For the first 10 dogs, mean pressure gradient 6 weeks after balloon valvuloplasty (mean +/- SD, 119 +/- 32.6 mm Hg) was significantly decreased, compared with mean baseline pressure gradient (167 +/- 40.1 mm Hg). Median survival time for dogs that underwent balloon valvuloplasty (55 months) was not significantly different from median survival time for dogs treated with atenolol (56 months). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that balloon valvuloplasty can result in a significant decrease in the peak systolic pressure gradient in dogs with severe SAS, at least for the short term. No clear benefit in survival times was seen for dogs that underwent balloon valvuloplasty versus dogs that were treated with atenolol.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16121608/