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Abstract 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.

Abstract 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.

Abstract 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.

Abstract Background Transarterial ductal occlusion with the Amplatzer vascular plug was first reported in dogs by Hogan et al in 2005. Hypothesis Use of the Amplatzer vascular plug is a safe, efficacious method of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occlusion. Animals Thirty-one client-owned dogs with PDA. Methods Records of 31 dogs in which transarterial occlusion of PDA with an Amplatzer vascular plug was attempted were reviewed. Results All dogs had a type II PDA, with 27 dogs having type IIA morphology and 4 dogs having type IIB morphology. Appropriate device deployment was achieved in 29 of 31 dogs. Postdeployment angiography in 21 dogs documented complete occlusion in 10 dogs, trivial residual flow in 5 dogs, mild residual flow in 2 dogs, moderate residual flow in 3 dogs, and severe residual flow in 1 dog. Transthoracic color Doppler echocardiography documented complete occlusion in 22 dogs, whereas 2 dogs had trivial residual flow, 2 dogs had mild residual flow, 2 dogs had mild to moderate residual flow, and 1 dog had severe residual flow. Of the 7 dogs with residual flow, 2 had complete occlusion 2–4 months postoperatively, 1 had moderate residual flow 1 month postoperatively, and 4 were lost to follow-up. One dog required a larger device than was able to be deployed through the largest sheath placed in the femoral artery. Pulmonary embolization of the device occurred in 1 dog. Conclusion We conclude that ductal occlusion with an Amplatzer vascular plug is a safe and efficacious therapy for PDA in dogs.

Background Closure of PDA can be associated with echocardiographic changes including deterioration of LV systolic function. Although PDA is commonly encountered in dogs, few comprehensive reports of echocardiographic changes in dogs with PDA closure are available. Objectives To evaluate the short‐term echocardiographic changes observed after PDA closure in dogs using strain analysis. Animals Seventeen client‐owned dogs with left‐to‐right PDA. Methods Echocardiographic evaluations, including standard echocardiography and two‐dimensional tissue tracking (2DTT), were performed before and within 3 days of PDA closure. Results Preclosure examination showed LV and left atrial dilatation indicating volume overload as a result of PDA. Closure of PDA resulted in significant reduction of LVIDd (<.0001) and LA/Ao (0.01) without change in LVIDs, suggestive of decreased preload. Postclosure LV systolic dysfunction was observed with significant decreased in FS (<.0001) and strain values (P = .0039 for radial strains, P = .0005 for circumferential strains). Additionally, significant LV dyssynchrony (P = .0162) was observed after closure of PDA. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Closure of PDA resulted in decreased preload as a result of alleviation of LV volume overload, which in turn caused transient deterioration of LV systolic function. Additionally, this study demonstrated that strain analysis is load dependent. Therefore, care should be taken when interpreting strain measurements as an indicator of LV systolic function.

The open-heart surgery was performed by Dan Brockman, professor of small animal surgery at the RVC, assisted by a large team of staff, including a perfusionist, three anaesthetists, two surgery nurses, three surgeons and a cardiology veterinary specialist-in-training.

Snakes are used in various investigations of the effects of their venom on human physiology. Blood sampling is frequently an important part of these investigations. The heart is the most commonly used venipuncture site in snakes because it yields a reasonably large sample. This column describes cardiocentesis for blood sample collection in the snake.

The authors analyzed and compared the cardiovascular effects of two anesthetic combinations in minipigs undergoing open-heart surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass. Pigs in group K ( n = 15) were anesthetized with low-dose ketamine combined with pentobarbital (5 mg per kg and 20 mg per kg, respectively, for induction; continuous intravenous infusion of 5 mg per kg per h and 10 mg per kg per h, respectively, for maintenance). Pigs in group F ( n = 15) were treated with fentanyl and pentobarbital (20 μg per kg and 20 mg per kg, respectively, for induction; continuous intravenous infusion of 20 μg per kg per h and 10 mg per kg per h, respectively, for maintenance). Most pigs remained stable during the surgical procedures and survived for at least one day after surgery; two pigs in group F died during or soon after surgery. Heart rate and mean arterial pressure after bypass were significantly lower in group F than in group K, and pigs in group F required higher doses of inotropic agents to maintain cardiac function. Results suggest that for open-heart surgery and bypass in minipigs, ketamine-pentobarbital anesthesia is associated with more stable cardiovascular conditions than is fentanyl-pentobarbital anesthesia.

Abstract Background:Primary infundibular stenosis is a rare congenital defect in which the right ventricle is divided into a proximal “high-pressure” chamber and a distal “low-pressure” chamber. The condition can be misdiagnosed as ventricular septal defect or valvular pulmonic stenosis and the disease severity underestimated. The purpose of this study was to provide a detailed clinical and echocardiographic description of this anomaly in a series of dogs. Hypothesis:Several anatomic forms of infundibular stenosis exist. High resolution two-dimensional echocardiography could differentiate 3 gross anatomic substrates. Knowledge of the anatomy of the obstructing lesion could influence options for corrective interventions. Animals:Thirteen dogs examined at the Ontario Veterinary College teaching hospital from 1994 to 2005 with an ultrasound diagnosis of subpulmonic stenasis. Methods:A retrospective review was made of case records from 1994 to 2005. Results:Thirteen dogs were identified as having primary infundibular stenosis, with apparent increased prevalence in Golden Retrievers (8/13, 62%) and Siberian Huskies (3/13, 23%). Three types of infundibular lesions were identified by ultrasound in 11/13 dogs: a fibrous diaphragm (6), fibromuscular (4), and muscular obstruction (1). Two dogs with a fibrous diaphragm underwent direct surgical dilation without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass or inflow occlusion, resulting in substantial reduction of the severity of stenosis. Conclusion and Clinical Importance: Accurate determination of the severity of the stenosis and the anatomy of the obstructing lesion are important in devising a treatment strategy. Recognition of the fibrous diaphragm by echocardiography identifies a subset of dogs potentially amenable to surgical dilation without the need for cardiopulmonary bypass.