Simultaneous surgical repair of a cardiac myxoma causing left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and a ventricular septal defect in a small dog.

Background: Cardiac myxomas are benign tumours that can occur in any heart chamber or valve. They are extremely rare in dogs. We present a novel case involving a cardiac myxoma in the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) and a ventricular septal defect (VSD) in a small dog. Case Description: A female miniature dachshund (age, 7 months; weight, 2.88 kg) presented with growth insufficiency, lethargy, and a cardiac murmur. Echocardiography revealed a small polypoid mass in the LVOT and a membranous VSD. Simultaneous surgeries were performed to resect the mass (aortotomy) and close the VSD (right atriotomy) using low-flow cardiopulmonary bypass with surface-cooling hypothermia and retrograde cardioplegia. The tumour was histopathologically identified as a myxoma. The dog survived with no cardiac complications for 11 years after surgery. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first report of ante-mortem diagnosis and simultaneous surgical repair of a cardiac myxoma obstructing the LVOT and a VSD in a small-breed dog. In addition to describing this complicated case, this report presents what we believe is the first reported use of retrograde cardioplegia during open-heart surgery in a small-breed dog.

Open-heart surgery using Del-Nido cardioplegia in two dogs: partial atrioventricular septal defect and mitral repair.

Del-Nido cardioplegia (DNc) is a single-dose cardioplegia that is widely used in human medicine because of its long duration. In this report, we describe two cases of open-heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) using DNc. One dog was diagnosed with partial atrioventricular septal defect, and the other dog was diagnosed with myxomatous mitral valve disease stage D. Both dogs were treated with open-heart surgery with DNc to induce temporary cardiac arrest. No complications from DNc were observed, and the patients were discharged. Veterinary heart surgeons should consider DNc as an option for temporary cardiac arrest during open-heart surgery with CPB.

Surgical repair of an unroofed coronary sinus in a dog.

A 5-year-old, 7.9 kg castrated male Miniature Dachsund presented with heart enlargement on radiography. The dog was asymptomatic. Echocardiography revealed a tubular structure running along the posterior wall of the left atrium and connecting to the right atrium on the caudal side of the left atrium and annulus, which was presumed to be a dilated coronary sinus. After confirming a shunt between the left atrium and coronary sinus by cardiovascular catheterization, an unroofed coronary sinus was diagnosed. Open-heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass was performed through left atriotomy. The defect between the left atrium and the coronary sinus was closed by suturing. The cardiac enlargement improved after surgery. The dog was still alive 1227 days after surgery without clinical signs.

Non-deflating balloon during pulmonary valvuloplasty.

A 3-year-old, 4.8 kg, male intact, mixed breed dog was referred for balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (BPV). Echocardiography was consistent with severe type A pulmonic stenosis and BPV was recommended. During BPV, the balloon catheter failed to deflate despite multiple attempts at repositioning and the use of different deflation syringes. After approximately two minutes of cardiopulmonary arrest, forceful retrograde traction resulted in removal of the fully inflated balloon. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was unsuccessful. Post-mortem evaluation by a board-certified pathologist identified rupture of the cranial vena cava and hemothorax, suspected to be secondary to forceful removal of the fully inflated balloon. Manufacturer's evaluation of the balloon catheter used in the procedure identified multiple kinks and a segment of stretched catheter shaft suspected to be the cause for the inability to deflate. A manufacturing defect present prior to use or predisposing to stretching of the catheter segment could not be ruled out. Kinking and/or stretching of the catheter during BPV were possible causes as well. Although the inability to deflate a balloon catheter seems to be a very rare occurrence, it should be considered as a potential complication of BPV.

Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction caused by a congenital accessory mitral valve leaflet and treated by open-heart surgery in a young dog.

A 3-month-old Shetland sheepdog presented with a loud ejection murmur and exercise intolerance. Echocardiography revealed an accessory mitral valve leaflet, characterised by a valve-like structure separate from the mitral valve seen in the subaortic region of the ventricular septum. The left ventricular outflow tract was partially obstructed with a pressure gradient of 12 mmHg. Accessory mitral valve leaflet resection and mitral valvuloplasty were performed during open-heart surgery. Histology performed on the membrane-like structures were indicative of fibrous connective tissues. Postoperative echocardiography confirmed removal of the valve-like structure with resolution of the left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The pressure gradient was decreased to 4.6 mmHg. The dog was in good condition and no further treatment was required 5 months after surgery. Both cardiac troponin I and NT-proBNP were markedly decreased. In this dog, surgical resection combined with mitral valve plasty resolved the left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and the clinical signs.

Prospective evaluation of novel biomarkers of acute kidney injury in dogs following cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in dogs undergoing cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and explore associations between traditional and novel serum and urinary biomarkers. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study conducted between July 2018 and April 2019. SETTING: University teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Nineteen dogs undergoing cardiac surgery under CPB with preoperative serum creatinine <140 µmol/L (<1.6 mg/dl). INTERVENTIONS: Blood and urine samples were obtained at 4 time points: preoperatively following general anesthesia induction, immediately postoperatively, and 2 and 4 days postoperatively (T1 , T2 , T3 , and T4 ). AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine ≥26.4 µmol/L (≥0.3 mg/dl) above baseline within 48 hours. Serum creatinine, C-reactive protein (CRP), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), inosine, beta-aminoisobutyric acid (BAIB), urinary clusterin (uClus), and urinary cystatin B (uCysB) were measured. Data were log-transformed (log10 ) when appropriate and assessed using linear mixed-effects models. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: AKI occurred in 3 of 19 dogs (15.8%, 95% confidence interval: 0.047-0.384). Inosine increased at T2 (adjusted mean ± standard error: 53 ± 5.6) in all dogs, and then gradually decreased. Log10 uCysB increased at T2 (2.3 ± 0.1) in all dogs and remained high. Log10 CRP and log10 uClus increased significantly at T3 (1.9 ± 0.1 and 3.6 ± 0.1, respectively) in all dogs and remained increased. There was a significant positive association between serum creatinine and SDMA (P < 0.001, estimate ± standard error: 0.06 ± 0.00), between log10 CRP and log10 uClus (P < 0.001, 0.35 ± 0.08), between SDMA and creatinine as well as between SDMA and BAIB (P < 0.001, 11.1 ± 0.83 and P < 0.001, 1.06 ± 0.22, respectively) for all dogs at all time points. CONCLUSIONS: Inosine and uCysB concentrations changed in all dogs immediately following a surgery under CPB and may indicate tubular injury. Further studies are required to ascertain the usefulness of those biomarkers in early detection of AKI.

Rare delayed cardiac tamponade in a pig after cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Delayed cardiac tamponade, a life-threatening complication of pericardial effusion in humans, has rarely been described in large animal models. We report here a pig with cardiac tamponade that developed 29 days after cardiac surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Case report. ANIMALS: One 45-kg domestic pig. METHODS: Open-chest surgery was performed on a pig to induce chronic heart failure. At 15 days after surgery, the pig's breathing appeared laboured; induced heart failure was considered the cause. Routine heart failure medications were administered. RESULTS: On day 28, the pig's status deteriorated. On day 29, echocardiography performed just before the pig's death showed a large pericardial effusion, mainly in the lateral and anterior walls of the right heart, with several fibre exudation bands. The right heart was severely compressed with an extremely small right ventricle. An emergency sternotomy was unsuccessful. Pathologic examination showed a severely thickened, fibrous pericardium. The pericardial sac was distended (up to 4.5 cm) and was full of dark brown, soft, friable material. Epicardial haemorrhage with a fresh, organised thrombus was noted in the pericardium. CONCLUSION: Delayed tamponade occurring at least 15 days after open-chest surgery is easy to misdiagnose or overlook in large animal models where attention is often focused on primary pathological model changes. To decrease mortality in animal models, researchers should be aware of potential complications and use the same level of follow-up monitoring of large animals as in clinical care.

The outcome of surgical mitral valve repair with loop-in-loop technique in dogs with different stage myxomatous mitral valve disease.

OBJECTIVES: Surgical mitral valve repair is a possible option for dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease. However, information on surgical results and postoperative echocardiography is limited. This study aimed to verify the stage-specific surgical results of mitral valve repair and postoperative echocardiographic changes for two years following surgery. ANIMALS: Adult dogs (n = 55) treated with surgical mitral valve repair using the loop-in-loop technique were included in this study. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Ninety percent of cases (50/55) survived to discharge, which survival was significantly decreased in myxomatous mitral valve disease advanced-stage dogs, Stage B2 (n = 14): 100%, Stage C (n = 27): 96.2%, and Stage D (n = 14): 71.4%. Significant reductions of overall heart size (vertebral heart score: preoperative 11.4 vs. post one month 10.2, P < 0.001), left atrium (left atrium to aortic root ratio: preoperative 2.3 vs. post one month 1.5, P < 0.001) and left ventricle (left ventricular end-diastolic diameter [normalized for bodyweight]: preoperative 2.2 vs. post one month 1.5, P < 0.001) were documented one month after surgery, showing successful management of mitral regurgitation. All medications for mitral valve disease were discontinued three months after surgery. The recurrence of mitral regurgitation was not evident during the two-year follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical mitral valve repair with the loop-in-loop technique is associated with significant decreases in indices of cardiac size at one-month post-repair. Disease stage influences operative survival after surgical mitral valve repair.

Open-heart techniques and mitral valve plasty for mitral regurgitation in toy- and small-breed dogs: A review.

In human medicine, in the past, open-heart techniques for low-bodyweight children and newborn babies with congenital heart disease were more difficult than high-bodyweight adults. In toy- and small-breed dogs with mitral regurgitation (MR), an acquired heart disease, these techniques are more difficult to perform than for congenital heart diseases in young medium-sized or large dogs because of old age and low body weight. Therefore, improved open-heart techniques and mitral valve surgery for severe MR in older toy- and small-breed dogs are essential. Through our surface-cooling hypothermia (sHT) studies, we designed a new, improved open-heart method, namely, "the low-flow cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) combined with deep sHT in toy- and small-breed dogs (Japan method)"; sHT was later replaced by blood-cooling hypothermia (bHT). At the same time, we devised a new, improved mitral valve plasty (MVP) applicable to severe MR, instead of mitral valve replacement, in toy- and small-breed dogs. This MVP technique was combined with artificial chordal reconstruction, semi-circular suture annuloplasty (AP), and direct scallop-suture valvuloplasty. These MVP techniques are simple, durable, and lead to good long-term quality of life in toy- and small-breed dogs. This review highlights the benefits of our improved CPB and MVP techniques (Japan method) for severe MR in toy-and small-breed dogs, which have led to a high success rate for MVP in severe clinical MR cases in Japan. It may further contribute to the development of more robust techniques for MR in toy- and small-breed dogs. This also represents the first comprehensive review of the history of open-heart surgery, CPB techniques, and MVP methods for MR in toy- and small-breed dogs.

Catheter-based electrical interventions to study, diagnose and treat arrhythmias in horses: From refractory period to electro-anatomical mapping.

Minimally-invasive catheter-based interventional cardiology is a mainstay for the diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias in human medicine. Very accurate imaging using fluoroscopy, CT and MRI is essential during interventional cardiology procedures. Because these imaging techniques are either not possible or provide too little anatomical detail in horses, echocardiography is currently the best technique to visualize catheters in horses. Over the past decades, catheter-based techniques have been applied to induce arrhythmias using pacing and to perform arrhythmia research using electrophysiological studies. In bradycardic animals with clinical signs, permanent pacing can be achieved by pacemaker implantation via the cephalic vein. Transvenous electrical cardioversion, based on one cardioversion catheter in the pulmonary artery and one in the right atrium, has become the treatment of choice for atrial fibrillation in horses, even for longstanding or drug-resistant atrial fibrillation. Recently, the highly advanced technique of three dimensional electroanatomical mapping has been described in horses. This technique has not only revealed essential electrophysiological data in horses, but has also facilitated the successful ablation of atrial tachycardia in horses.

Unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis associated with surgical mitral valve repair in dogs.

OBJECTIVES: Unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis (UDP) due to phrenic nerve injury is a potential complication of thoracic surgery. This study evaluated the prevalence of UDP associated with surgical mitral valve repair (MVR) and its effect on surgical outcomes in dogs. ANIMALS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred ninety-four dogs that underwent MVR were included in the study. A retrospective review of medical records was performed for dogs surviving surgery. Diagnosis of UDP was based on preoperative and postoperative thoracic dorsoventral radiographs. RESULTS: A total of 284 dogs survived until the day after surgery. The prevalence of UDP on the day after surgery, on the day of discharge, and after the first postoperative month was 30%, 24%, and 9%, respectively. One case of UDP was observed at 3 months after surgery. Unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis was exhibited by nine of the 21 patients that died in the hospital. The proportion of patients with UDP was higher in dogs that died of respiratory failure than in dogs that died of other causes (p = 0.002). Most dogs whose deaths were suspected to have been related to respiratory failure also had pre-existing respiratory diseases. The occurrence of UDP did not relate to the lengths of stay in the intensive care unit or the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that UDP is a common complication in dogs after MVR and that the prevalence of UDP decreases with time after surgery. Unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis is a risk factor for postoperative death, especially in patients with pre-existing respiratory disease.

Anatomy, baseline characteristics, and procedural outcome of patent ductus arteriosus in German Shepherd dogs.

BACKGROUND: German Shepherd dogs (GSD) are predisposed to developing patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and are reportedly prone to type III (tubular) PDA anatomy. Dogs with type III anatomy are not considered favorable candidates for device-based intervention. OBJECTIVE: To describe the PDA anatomy, baseline characteristics, and procedural outcome of GSD with PDA. ANIMALS: Twenty-eight client-owned GSD. METHODS: Retrospective review of medical records of 28 GSD diagnosed with PDA that underwent surgical ligation or transcatheter device closure between 2007 and 2017. RESULTS: German Shepherd dogs with PDA often presented with clinical signs (50%), concurrent congenital heart disease (35.7%), and arrhythmias (29%). Dogs were typically mature at presentation (median age, 12.1 months) and evenly distributed by sex (57% female). The PDA anatomy was classified in 24 of 28 GSD, with type II anatomy being most common (21/24). Three dogs had unusual anatomy (type IV in 1, type V in 2). Median minimal ductal diameter (MDD) in this population was larger than previously reported in a mixed population and ranged between 4.4 and 4.9 mm depending upon imaging modality. Successful closure was achieved using an Amplatz canine duct occluder (ACDO) in 22 dogs or by surgical ligation in 6 dogs. No cases of type III anatomy were confirmed. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The majority of GSD in this population had type II PDA anatomy that was amenable to ACDO deployment. Predisposition for large MDD and occasional, unusual PDA anatomy suggests that transesophageal echocardiography may be beneficial for optimal procedural planning in this breed.

Relationship between Device Size and Body Weight in Dogs with Patent Ductus Arteriosus Undergoing Amplatz Canine Duct Occluder Deployment.

BACKGROUND: Deployment of the Amplatz Canine Duct Occluder (ACDO) is the preferred method for minimally invasive occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in dogs, with appropriate device sizing crucial to successful closure. Dogs of any body weight can be affected by PDA. OBJECTIVES: To describe the range of ACDO sizes deployed in dogs of various body weights for improved procedural planning and inventory selection and to investigate for correlation between minimal ductal diameter (MDD) and body weight. ANIMALS: A total of 152 dogs undergoing ACDO deployment between 2008 and 2016. METHODS: Body weight, age, breed, sex, and MDD obtained by angiography (MDD-A), MDD obtained by transesophageal echocardiography (MDD-TEE), and ACDO size deployed were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Correlation between body weight and ACDO size, MDD-A and MDD-TEE was poor, with R-squared values of 0.4, 0.36, and 0.3, respectively. Femoral artery diameter in the smallest population of dogs placed inherent limitations on the use of larger device sizes, with no limitations on the wide range of device sizes required as patient size increased. The most commonly used ACDO devices were size 3 through 6, representing 57% of the devices deployed within the entire study population. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Patent ductus arteriosus anatomy varies on an individual basis, with poor correlation between MDD and body weight. Weight-based assumptions about expected ACDO device size for a given patient are not recommended.

Noninvasive stroke volume variation using electrical velocimetry for predicting fluid responsiveness in dogs undergoing cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of a noninvasive cardiac output monitoring system with electrical velocimetry (EV) for predicting fluid responsiveness in dogs undergoing cardiac surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective experimental trial. ANIMALS: A total of 30 adult Beagle dogs. METHODS: Stroke volume (SV), stroke volume variation (SVV) and cardiac index were measured using the EV device in sevoflurane-anaesthetized, mechanically ventilated dogs undergoing thoracotomies for experimental creation of right ventricular failure. The dogs were considered fluid responsive if stroke volume (SVI; indexed to body weight), measured using pulmonary artery thermodilution, increased by 10% or more after volume loading (10 mL kg-1). Relationships of SVV, central venous pressure (CVP) and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) with SVI were analysed to estimate fluid responsiveness. RESULTS: Better prediction of fluid responsiveness, with a significant area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, was observed for SVV (0.85±0.07; p=0.0016) in comparison with CVP (0.65±0.11; p=0.17) or PAOP (0.60±0.12; p=0.35), with a cut-off value of 13.5% (84% specificity and 73% sensitivity). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: SVV derived from EV is useful for identification of dogs that are likely to respond to fluids, providing valuable information on volume status under cardiothoracic anaesthesia.

Interventional Closure of a Patent Ductus Arteriosus Using an Amplatz Canine Duct Occluder in an Alpaca Cria.

A 6-month old female alpaca cria presented to The Ohio State University for evaluation of a cardiac murmur. Echocardiography revealed a left-to-right shunting patent ductus arteriosus, a restrictive left-to-right shunting perimembranous ventricular septal defect, and secondary moderate left atrial and ventricular dilation. Aortic root angiography demonstrated a type IIA patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Interventional closure of the PDA was successfully performed, without complication, using an Amplatz canine duct occluder. This case report describes the materials and methods used for interventional closure of a PDA in an alpaca cria.

Heartworm Removal Guided by Transesophageal Echocardiography in a Dog with Naturally Acquired Caval Syndrome.

A 14 mo old shih tzu was referred for dyspnea, hemoptysis, and hematuria. Heartworm disease with caval syndrome was diagnosed by laboratory tests, thoracic radiography, and transthoracic echocardiography. The minimally invasive heartworm removal procedure was performed using flexible alligator forceps guided by transesophageal echocardiography. The procedure was successfully performed removing over 94% of heartworms displayed echocardiographically without any intraoperative complication.

Inflow Venous Occlusion for Intracardiac Resection of an Occluding Right Ventricular Tumor.

Use of normothermic venous inflow occlusion enabled removal of an intracardiac tumor in a 4 yr old, 27 kg, spayed female Airedale terrier with a history of appendicular osteosarcoma and recent exertional syncope. Inflow venous occlusion via a median sternotomy thoracotomy without hypothermia was used to access the mineralized mass within the right ventricular outflow tract. Duration of circulatory arrest was 70 s for this beating heart surgery. A circumscribed intracardiac chondrosarcoma tumor was marginally resected in this dog, successfully alleviating exertional syncope and restoring a normal echogenic appearance of the right heart. Asymptomatic intracardiac chondrosarcoma recurrence and pulmonary metastasis was detected at 309 days and cardiopulmonary arrest occurred 372 days following intracardiac surgery. Use of inflow occlusion is a viable technique for select intracardiac tumors in dogs with preoperative planning.

Differential effects of propofol and isoflurane on the relationship between EEG Narcotrend index and clinical stages of anaesthetic depth in sheep undergoing experimental cardiac surgery.

The electroencephalogram (EEG) Narcotrend index (NI) has been shown to improve anaesthetic depth monitoring in isoflurane-anaesthetised sheep. Data obtained from 13 anaesthetised juvenile female sheep were analysed retrospectively in order to assess the relationship between clinical stages of anaesthesia (CS) and NI during both propofol and isoflurane anaesthesia. Polynomial regression analysis revealed no significant association between CS and NI for propofol (R = 0.374, R(2) = 0.140, P = 0.403) but for isoflurane anaesthesia (R = 0.548, R(2) = 0.301, P = 0.010) there was a significant relationship. Furthermore, a strong correlation existed between end-tidal isoflurane concentration (ISOET) and CS (r = -0.463, P = 0.008). A combination of assessment of clinical signs and analogous EEG patterns is recommended during propofol anaesthesia.

Therapeutic hypothermia applicable to cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To review the beneficial and adverse effects of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) applicable to cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in the contexts of various temperature levels and techniques for achieving TH. DATABASES USED: Multiple electronic literature searches were performed using PubMed and Google for articles published from June 2012 to December 2014. Relevant terms (e.g. 'hypothermia', 'cardiopulmonary bypass', 'cardiac surgery', 'neuroprotection') were used to search for original articles, letters and reviews without species limitation. Reviews were included despite potential publication bias. References from the studies identified were also searched to find other potentially relevant citations. Abstracts, case reports, conference presentations, editorials and expert opinions were excluded. CONCLUSIONS: Therapeutic hypothermia is an essential measure of neuroprotection during cardiac surgery that may be achieved most effectively by intravascular cooling using hypothermic CPB. For most cardiac surgical procedures, mild to modest (32-36 °C) TH will be sufficient to assure neuroprotection and will avoid most of the adverse effects of hypothermia that occur at lower body core temperatures.