Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Balloon treatment for severe pulmonic stenosis in small dogs
By Uemura, Akiko et al.·Published in Journal of the South African Veterinary Association·2021·Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Transoesophageal echocardiography-guided hybrid balloon valvuloplasty for severe pulmonic stenosis in small dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A Chihuahua with severe heart problems caused by pulmonic stenosis (a narrowing of the heart valve) underwent a special balloon procedure to help open the valve. This method used a camera to guide the treatment, making it possible for small dogs that couldn't have other types of surgery. While the procedure was invasive, it allowed the veterinarian to see the problem directly and was successful in treating the dog's condition. This option could be a good choice for small dogs with similar heart issues.
People also search for: Chihuahua heart problems · balloon valvuloplasty for dogs · small dog heart surgery options
Abstract
Pulmonic stenosis (PS) is the most common congenital heart disease in dogs and is commonly seen in small breeds, such as Chihuahuas. Conventional treatments have limitations specific to small dogs, including the invasive nature of open-heart surgery and size limitations in percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty. Here, transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE)-guided balloon valvuloplasty via thoracotomy was performed for three small dogs with PS. The procedure was feasible in all cases, including those for which percutaneous treatment was not an option. Although the procedure is invasive, because of the need for thoracotomy, it is one of the treatment options that may be effective for PS, especially in small dogs, as it allows visualisation of the pulmonary artery lesion without relying on the experience of the surgeon.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33567831/