Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with heart block and rare vein gets pacemaker through coronary
By Cunningham, Suzanne M & Rush, John E·Published in Journal of veterinary cardiology : the official journal of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology·2007·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Transvenous pacemaker placement in a dog with atrioventricular block and persistent left cranial vena cava.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 10-year-old dog was brought in for severe heart issues, including a slow heartbeat and irregular heart rhythm. The veterinarian discovered the dog had a rare condition called persistent left cranial vena cava (PLCVC) and a serious heart block. To help the dog, they successfully placed a permanent pacemaker, which involved threading a lead through the heart's veins. After the procedure, the dog's heart rhythm improved, and it was able to live more comfortably.
People also search for: dog heart block treatment · pacemaker for dogs · persistent left cranial vena cava in dogs
Abstract
The case reported herein describes the placement of a permanent transvenous pacemaker in an older dog with a previously undiagnosed persistent left cranial vena cava (PLCVC) and recent onset symptomatic third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block. On presentation the dog was found to have atrial flutter and third-degree AV block and echocardiography demonstrated evidence of chronic valvular disease and pulmonary arterial hypertension. The persistent left cranial vena cava was discovered via angiography when difficulties were encountered with pacemaker placement. Successful right ventricular pacing necessitated passage of the lead through the coronary sinus. The attendant complications in pacemaker placement in the presence of a PLCVC are well-described in man but, to the authors' knowledge, have not been described in companion animals.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18024237/