Cor triatriatum sinister in a dog

This report describes the transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic features of cor triatriatum sinister in an asymptomatic 6-year-old male French bulldog. Although cor triatriatum sinister represents a well-known and widely described cardiac malformation in humans, its description in the canine population is rare. In this clinical case, non-invasive echocardiographic techniques were helpful in visualizing and characterizing the lesion, allowing a valuable assessment of the malformation, and its hemodynamic consequences

Comparison of the diagnostic value of a small, single channel, electrocardiogram monitoring patch with a standard 3-lead Holter system over 24 hours in dogs

Introduction/Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare a novel small event recorder device, the Carnation Ambulatory Monitor (CAM), with a standard Holter. Animals: Nineteen adult dogs. Material and methods: Comparative and explorative study. The two devices were simultaneously applied for approximately 24 h. Results: Analysis time (P=0.013) and percentage of artefacts (P<0.001) were greater for the CAM (110 min [40–264]; and 9% [0–34], respectively) compared to a standard Holter (30 min [18–270]; and 0.3% [0–9], respectively). The total number of beats (P=0.017) and maximum (P=0.02) and mean (P=0.037) heart rates were lower for the CAM (113,806 ± 23,619 beats; 227 ± 35 bpm; and 88 ± 22 bpm, respectively) compared to the standard Holter (131,640 ± 40,037 beats; 260 ± 64 bpm; and 92 ± 26 bpm, respectively). The minimal heart rate (P=0.725), number of pauses (P=0.078), duration of the longest pause (P=0.087), number of ventricular ectopic complexes (P=0.55), ventricular couplets (P=0.186), ventricular triplets (P=0.203), ventricular tachycardia (P=0.05), Lown grade (P=0.233), presence or absence of ventricular bigeminy, trigeminy, supraventricular tachycardia, and atrial fibrillation (P=0.98) did not differ. The CAM missed some relevant events, like complex ventricular arrhythmias, and the Lown grade did not match in 5/19 dogs when comparing the devices. Conclusions: Cardiac Ambulatory Monitor can be used to record ECG traces in dogs over a prolonged period, allowing to detect arrhythmias. Due to some clinically relevant limitations, including a higher percentage of artefacts, a longer reading time (which precludes quantitative counts of >300ventricular premature complexes), and underestimation of complex ventricular arrhythmias, the CAM appears not suitable for quantitative arrhythmia analysis in dogs

Assessment of Left Atrial Deformation and Function by 2-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography in Healthy Dogs and Dogs With Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease

open7noBackground: The assessment of left atrial (LA) function by 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) holds important clinical implications in human medicine. Few similar data are available in dogs. Objectives: To assess LA function by STE in dogs with and without myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), analyzing LA areas, systolic function, and strain. Animals: One hundred and fifty dogs were divided according to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine classification of heart failure: 23 dogs in class A, 52 in class B1, 36 in class B2, and 39 in class C + D. Methods: Prospective observational study. Conventional morphologic and Doppler variables, LA areas, and STE-based LA strain analysis were performed in all dogs and results were compared among groups. Correlation analysis was carried out between LA STE variables and other echocardiographic variables. Results: Variability study showed good reproducibility for all the tested variables (coefficient of variation &lt;16%). Left atrial areas, fractional area change, peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS), peak atrial contraction strain, and contraction strain index (CSI) differed significantly between groups B2 and C + D and all the other groups (overall P &lt; .001), whereas only PALS differed between groups B1 and A (P = .01). Left atrial areas increased with progression of the disease, whereas LA functional parameters decreased. Only CSI increased nonsignificantly from group A to group B1 and then progressively decreased. Thirty-one significant correlations (P &lt; .001, r &gt; .3) were found between conventional left heart echocardiographic variables and LA areas and strain variables. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Left atrial STE analysis provides useful information on atrial function in the dog, highlighting a progressive decline in atrial function with worsening of MMVD.openBaron Toaldo, M; Romito, G.; Guglielmini, C.; Diana, A.; Pelle, N.G.; Contiero, B.; Cipone, M.Baron Toaldo, M; Romito, G.; Guglielmini, C.; Diana, A.; Pelle, N.G.; Contiero, B.; Cipone, M

Prognostic value of echocardiographic indices of left atrial morphology and function in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease

Background: The prognostic relevance of left atrial (LA) morphological and functional variables, including those derived from speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), has been little investigated in veterinary medicine. Objectives: To assess the prognostic value of several echocardiographic variables, with a focus on LA morphological and functional variables in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). Animals: One-hundred and fifteen dogs of different breeds with MMVD. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Conventional morphologic and echo-Doppler variables, LA areas and volumes, and STE-based LA strain analysis were performed in all dogs. A survival analysis was performed to test for the best echocardiographic predictors of cardiac-related death. Results: Most of the tested variables, including all LA STE-derived variables were univariate predictors of cardiac death in Cox proportional hazard analysis. Because of strong correlation between many variables, only left atrium to aorta ratio (LA/Ao > 1.7), mitral valve E wave velocity (MV E vel > 1.3 m/s), LA maximal volume (LAVmax > 3.53 mL/kg), peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS < 30%), and contraction strain index (CSI per 1% increase) were entered in the univariate analysis, and all were predictors of cardiac death. However, only the MV E vel (hazard ratio [HR], 4.45; confidence interval [CI], 1.76-11.24; P <.001) and LAVmax (HR, 2.32; CI, 1.10-4.89; P =.024) remained statistically significant in the multivariable analysis. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The assessment of LA dimension and function provides useful prognostic information in dogs with MMVD. Considering all the LA variables, LAVmax appears the strongest predictor of cardiac death, being superior to LA/Ao and STE-derived variables

Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic evaluation in dogs with hypothyroidism before and after levothyroxine supplementation: A prospective controlled study.

Background: Improvement in cardiac function has been demonstrated after thyroxine treatment in humans with hypothyroidism using the myocardial performance index (MPI). Cardiac changes after thyroxine supplementation are poorly documented in dogs with spontaneous hypothyroidism and comparison with clinically healthy dogs is lacking. Objectives: To evaluate the electrical activity and mechanical function of the heart in dogs with primary hypothyroidism at baseline (T0) and after thyroxine supplementation (T60). Animals: Forty client-owned dogs with hypothyroidism and 20 clinically healthy dogs. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Selected electrocardiographic and echocardiographic variables, including the MPI, were measured in all dogs at T0 and in 30 hypothyroid dogs at T60. Results: Hypothyroid dogs had significantly decreased median or mean heart rate (HR), P wave amplitude, and R wave amplitude (P =.04, P =.002, and P =.003, respectively) and E-point-to-septal separation normalized to body weight (EPSSn) and trans-mitral E wave velocity (E max; P &lt;.001 and P =.025, respectively) at T0 compared to control dogs. At T60, significantly increased median or mean HR, P wave amplitude, fractional shortening, and E max (P &lt;.001, P =.004, P =.002, and P =.009, respectively) and significantly decreased left ventricular end-diastolic volume index, and normalized systolic diameter and EPSSn (P =.03, P =.03, and P =.001, respectively) were found. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Hypothyroidism in dogs induces mild and reversible changes of electromechanical cardiac function. The MPI does not have clinical importance in identifying cardiac dysfunction in affected dogs

Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic evaluation in dogs with hypothyroidism before and after levothyroxine supplementation: A prospective controlled study

Background: Improvement in cardiac function has been demonstrated after thyroxine treatment in humans with hypothyroidism using the myocardial performance index (MPI). Cardiac changes after thyroxine supplementation are poorly documented in dogs with spontaneous hypothyroidism and comparison with clinically healthy dogs is lacking. Objectives: To evaluate the electrical activity and mechanical function of the heart in dogs with primary hypothyroidism at baseline (T0) and after thyroxine supplementation (T60). Animals: Forty client-owned dogs with hypothyroidism and 20 clinically healthy dogs. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Selected electrocardiographic and echocardiographic variables, including the MPI, were measured in all dogs at T0 and in 30 hypothyroid dogs at T60. Results: Hypothyroid dogs had significantly decreased median or mean heart rate (HR), P wave amplitude, and R wave amplitude (P =.04, P =.002, and P =.003, respectively) and E-point-to-septal separation normalized to body weight (EPSSn) and trans-mitral E wave velocity (E max; P &lt;.001 and P =.025, respectively) at T0 compared to control dogs. At T60, significantly increased median or mean HR, P wave amplitude, fractional shortening, and E max (P &lt;.001, P =.004, P =.002, and P =.009, respectively) and significantly decreased left ventricular end-diastolic volume index, and normalized systolic diameter and EPSSn (P =.03, P =.03, and P =.001, respectively) were found. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Hypothyroidism in dogs induces mild and reversible changes of electromechanical cardiac function. The MPI does not have clinical importance in identifying cardiac dysfunction in affected dogs

Venom from Cuban Blue Scorpion has tumor activating effect in hepatocellular carcinoma

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the term used to describe many kinds of products, practices, and systems that are not part of conventional medicine. Cancer patients usually do everything they can to combat the disease, manage its symptoms, and cope with the side effects of treatment. Unfortunately, patients who use CAM underestimate the risk of interaction with cancer therapy or worse they omit conventional therapy thus reducing the possibility of cancer remission. Herein we analyzed the effects of Vidatox 30 CH (venom extracted from the Junceus Rhopalurus scorpion) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. We found out that Vidatox increases HCC proliferation and invasion whereas it does not seem to interact with sorafenib, the orally active multikinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Our results suggest that the concentration of Vidatox used in the present study has not anti-neoplastic effects and care must be taken in hiring Vidatox in patients with HCC

Anaesthetic management of three Maine Coon cats undergoing hybrid intervention for treatment of cor triatriatum sinister

This report describes the anaesthetic management of three Maine Coon cats undergoing hybrid cutting balloon dilatation for treatment of cor triatriatum sinister. In cat 1, cor triatriatum sinister was an incidental finding during routine transthoracic echocardiographic screening. Cats 2 and 3 presented with tachypnoea and underwent preoperative therapy with diuretics and antithrombotics. All cats were premedicated with fentanyl. Anaesthesia was co-induced with midazolam and either etomidate (cats 1 and 2) or alfaxalone (cat 3). Sevoflurane, a fentanyl continuous-rate infusion and a dexmedetomidine continuous-rate infusion were used for maintenance of anaesthesia. Intravenous methadone, epidural morphine and methadone, an intercostal block and a subcutaneous wound splash with local anaesthetics complemented the analgesic protocol. Intraoperative complications included arrhythmias, bleeding, hypotension and hypothermia. Postoperative emergence delirium and haemothorax developed in two and one cat, respectively. All three cats recovered well and were discharged home

Clinical presentation, echocardiographic findings, treatment strategies, and prognosis of dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease presented with pericardial effusion due to suspected left atrial tear: a retrospective case–control study

Introduction/objectives: Left atrial tear (LAT) is a life-threatening complication in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). The study objective was to describe clinical presentation, echocardiographic findings, treatment strategies, and survival in dogs with LAT compared to a control group of dogs with a similar stage of MMVD but no LAT. ANIMALS AND MATERIALS AND METHODS: two-center retrospective case-controlled study including 15 dogs with and 15 dogs without LAT was conducted. Clinical and echocardiographic data were reviewed, and survival information were collected. Results: Nine dogs in each group were in stage C of MMVD, while the remaining were in stage B2. No differences between groups were found regarding age, body weight, sex, kidney values, and echocardiography-derived cardiac dimensions. Most reported clinical signs associated with LAT included weakness, respiratory signs, and syncope. Treatment varied and was mainly focused on the management of congestive heart failure. Three dogs with LAT received a pericardiocentesis. All 15 dogs with LAT had died of cardiac causes, 5 dogs during the first 7 days after admission. The median survival time for all 15 dogs with LAT was 52 days compared to 336 days in the control group (P=0.103). When excluding 5 dogs with LAT that died during the first 7 days, the median survival increased to 407 days, not different compared to the control group (P=0.549). Conclusions: Dogs with MMVD and LAT have a high short-term mortality; however, when surviving the acute phase, the long-term prognosis may not differ from dogs with a similarly advanced degree of MMVD but without LAT

Ventricular pre-excitation in cats: 17 cases.

OBJECTIVES Atrioventricular accessory pathways are abnormal electrical connections between the atria and ventricles that predispose to ventricular pre-excitation (VPE) and tachycardias. ANIMALS Seventeen cats with VPE and 15 healthy matched-control cats. MATERIAL AND METHODS Multicenter case-control retrospective study. Clinical records were searched for cats with VPE, defined as preserved atrioventricular synchrony, reduced PQ interval, and increased QRS complex duration with a delta wave. Clinical, electrocardiography, echocardiographic, and outcome data were collated. RESULTS Most cats with VPE were male (16/17 cats), non-pedigree cats (11/17 cats). Median age and mean body weight were 5.4 years (0.3-11.9 years) and 4.6 ± 0.8 kg, respectively. Clinical signs at presentation included lethargy (10/17 cats), tachypnea (6/17 cats), and/or syncope (3/17 cats). In two cats, VPE was an incidental finding. Congestive heart failure was uncommon (3/17 cats). Nine (9/17) cats had tachyarrhythmias: 7/9 cats had narrow QRS complex tachycardia and 2/9 cats had wide QRS complex tachycardia. Four cats had ventricular arrhythmias. Cats with VPE had larger left (P < 0.001) and right (P < 0.001) atria and thicker interventricular septum (P = 0.019) and left ventricular free wall (P = 0.028) than controls. Three cats had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Treatment included different combinations of sotalol (5/17 cats), diltiazem (5/17 cats), atenolol (4/17 cats), furosemide (4/17 cats), and platelet inhibitors (4/17 cats). Five cats died, all from cardiac death (median survival time 1882 days [2-1882 days]). CONCLUSIONS Cats with VPE had a relatively long survival, albeit showing larger atria and thicker left ventricular walls than healthy cats