Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Foal with heart defect - what to know about tricuspid atresia
By Button, C et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·1978·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Tricuspid atresia in a foal.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A young Arabian crossbred foal was brought in for examination because it was suspected to have a heart problem present from birth. The vet found a very loud heart murmur and noticed that the foal had a bluish tint to its skin and an increased number of red blood cells. Tests showed that the heart's left side was enlarged, and further imaging revealed a narrowing of the pulmonary artery. Unfortunately, after undergoing heart surgery to correct the issue, the foal passed away. A detailed examination after death showed several serious heart defects, including a blockage in the tricuspid valve area and other abnormalities in the heart's structure.
Abstract
An Arabian crossbred foal was examined because of a suspected congenital cardiac anomaly. There was a grade V/V crescendo-decresendo holosystolic murmur and thrill in the left 4th intercostal space. The foal was slightly cyanotic and polycythemic. Electrocardiography suggested left ventricular hypertrophy. Angiography and cardiac and vascular pressure recordings led to a diagnosis of pulmonic stenosis. The foal died after cardiac bypass and corrective surgery. Postmortem examination revealed an enlarged right atrium, atresia of the tricuspid orifice, a large, fenestrated patent foramen ovale, eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy, and a large interventricular septal defect. The right ventricle had a small lumen and a relatively thick wall. There was valvular and supravalvular pulmonic stenosis, with poststenotic dilatation of the pulmonary artery. A single coronary artery originated from the anterior sinus of the aorta.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/640947/