Clinical feasibility study of transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair in dogs with the canine V-Clamp device.

Objective: To determine procedural feasibility, safety, and short-term efficacy in dogs with severe degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR) undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) with a canine-specific device.

Design: Prospective, single-arm (uncontrolled), single-institution clinical feasibility study.

Animals: Fifty client-owned dogs with severe degenerative MR operated over a 28-month period.

Utility of vertebral left atrial size and vertebral heart size to aid detection of congestive heart failure in dogs with respiratory signs.

Background: Differentiating cardiogenic vs noncardiogenic causes of respiratory signs can be challenging when echocardiography is unavailable. Radiographic vertebral left atrial size (VLAS) and vertebral heart size (VHS) have been shown to predict echocardiographic left heart size, with VLAS specifically estimating left atrial size.

Hypothesis/objectives: Compare the diagnostic accuracy of VLAS and VHS to predict left-sided congestive heart failure (CHF) in dogs presenting with respiratory signs.

The Genetics of Canine Pulmonary Valve Stenosis.

There have been recent advancements in understanding the genetic contribution to pulmonary valve stenosis (PS) in brachycephalic breeds such as the French Bulldog and Bulldog. The associated genes are transcriptions factors involved in cardiac development, which is comparable to the genes that cause PS in humans. However, validation studies and functional follow up is necessary before this information can be used for screening purposes.

Effect of a specially formulated diet on progression of heart enlargement in dogs with subclinical degenerative mitral valve disease.

Background: Previous studies in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD) have identified altered myocardial energy metabolism and oxidation, which might contribute to cardiac hypertrophy. Diets rich in medium chain fatty acids and antioxidants are a potential means of treatment. A previous clinical study found significantly smaller left atrial diameter (LAD) and left atrium-to-aorta diameter ratio (LA : Ao) in dogs with subclinical DMVD fed a specially formulated diet vs control diet for 6 months.

Right atrial thrombus formation in a dog after successful electrical cardioversion for atrial fibrillation.

Right atrial masses in dogs are commonly diagnosed as malignant tumors. This report describes a dog with a right atrial mass that appeared after successful electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation and resolved with antithrombotic treatment. A 9-year-old mastiff was presented for acute vomiting, and occasional cough of several weeks' duration.

The classical and alternative circulating renin-angiotensin system in normal dogs and dogs with stage B1 and B2 myxomatous mitral valve disease.

Background: The behavior of the comprehensive circulating renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) before to the onset of congestive heart failure remains largely unexplored.

Hypothesis/objectives: The classical and alternative RAS activity and aldosterone concentrations will be significantly higher in dogs with American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) stage B2 MMVD compared to normal dogs and dogs with ACVIM stage B1 MMVD.

Animals: One-hundred seventeen client-owned dogs (normal = 60; B1 = 31; B2 = 26).

Bilateral lysis of aortic saddle thrombus with early tissue plasminogen activator (BLASTT): a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study in feline acute aortic thromboembolism.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) on the treatment of feline aortic thromboembolism (FATE).

Methods: Cats diagnosed with FATE involving ⩾2 limbs were enrolled in a prospective, multicenter, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study within 6 h of an event. Diagnosis was made by clinical findings and one confirmatory criterion.

Transatrial stenting for long-term management of cardiac tumor obstruction of the right atrium in 3 dogs.

Background: Venous obstruction in dogs caused by large intracardiac masses can result in severe morbidity with few safe treatments.

Hypothesis/objectives: Retrospective study to report results after transatrial stent placement in dogs with naturally occurring cardiac masses causing venous obstruction.

Animals: Three client-owned dogs diagnosed with large cardiac masses.

Surgical repair for canine tricuspid valve dysplasia: Technique and case report.

Tricuspid valve dysplasia (TVD) is a congenital malformation of the right atrioventricular valve characterized by restricted leaflet motion, annular dilation, and tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Severe cases typically exhibit progressive right-sided congestive heart failure, affecting the quality of life and survival. This article describes a technique for surgical repair of TVD and a case report with long-term follow-up.

Equine Congenital Heart Disease.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) represents a small proportion of horses undergoing clinical evaluation; however, both simple and complex defects occur during cardiac development leading to many unique malformations. This article reviews cardiac development and the fetal circulation, describes the morphologic method and the sequential segmental approach to CHD analysis, presents a summary of CHD in horses, and offers an overview of lesions that should be considered during evaluation of horses suspected to have CHD. For many forms of equine CHD, therapies are limited because cardiac interventions and cardiac surgery are not routinely pursued in this species.

Electrocardiography-gated cardiac CT angiography can differentiate brachycephalic dogs with and without pulmonary valve stenosis and findings differ from transthoracic echocardiography.

Pulmonary valve stenosis (PS) is one of the most commonly diagnosed congenital heart defects in dogs. Currently, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the standard modality used to evaluate PS. Image acquisition by TTE can be challenging in some brachycephalic breeds of dogs.

Cardiac Interventions in Small Animals: Areas of Uncertainty.

There remain areas of uncertainty in optimal technique, preferred candidates, and expected outcome for small animal patients undergoing cardiac intervention. This article highlights issues within interventional cardiology that are in need of study and offers the author's opinion and experience on topics such as variants of pulmonary valve anatomy and alternatives to conventional balloon dilation for pulmonary valve stenosis, patient selection for cutting or high-pressure balloon dilation of aortic valvar or subaortic stenosis, occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus in very small dogs, ductal stenting in conditions with reduced pulmonary blood flow, and alternative considerations for vascular access and closure.

Interventional Radiology Management of Vascular Obstruction.

Vascular obstructions in small animals have numerous etiologies and variable signs depending on location and chronicity. The decision to treat and by which method (medical, interventional, surgical) can be challenging. A combined approach of catheter-directed thrombolysis, angioplasty, or vascular stenting may be most appropriate for acute thrombosis, though optimal therapeutic strategies are undefined in this population.

A retrospective review of 146 active and passive fixation bradycardia lead implantations in 74 dogs undergoing pacemaker implantation in a research setting of short term duration.

Background: Canine veterinary patients increasingly benefit from implantation of transvenous pacemakers for bradyarrhythmias. No published data exist examining procedural outcomes of pacemaker implantation performed in the preclinical laboratory. The purpose was to review short term complication, infection, dislodgement, penetration rates, plus overall morbidity following pacemaker implantation in the research setting.

Effect of calibration methods on the accuracy of angiographic measurements during transcatheter procedures in dogs.

Background: Different methods to perform reference calibration of an angiographic image exist; however, a prospective comparison of calibration methods has yet to be investigated in veterinary medicine.

Objective: To compare angiographic measurements using two commonly employed reference calibration methods, an esophageal pigtail marker catheter (EC) versus a radiopaque table ruler (TR).

Animals: Thirty-five client-owned dogs undergoing transcatheter intervention.

Development of two surgical approaches to the pituitary gland in the Horse.

Background: Current treatment of equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) requires daily oral medication. Minimally invasive surgical palliation of this condition is appealing as a single treatment to alleviate the clinical signs of disease, dramatically improving the welfare of the horse.

Objective: To develop a surgical approach to the equine pituitary gland, for subsequent treatment of PPID.

Role of computed tomography angiography in the differentiation of feline truncus arteriosus communis from pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect.

Two domestic shorthair cats, a 6-month-old castrated male and a 7-month-old intact female, were diagnosed with complex congenital heart disease. Transthoracic echocardiography in both cats revealed a dilated arterial trunk overriding the interventricular septum with a large ventricular septal defect. The pulmonary trunk and branch pulmonary arteries were not visible using standard echocardiographic views in either cat.

Arterial anomalies of the celiac trunk and median arcuate ligament compression in dogs and cats assessed by computed tomography angiography.

Objective: To identify abnormalities of the celiac artery (CA) and major branches in dogs and cats by computed tomography angiography (CTA).

Study Design: Multi-institutional retrospective case series.

Animals: Two hundred fifty-four dogs and 13 cats.

Coronary Artery Anomalies in Animals.

Coronary artery anomalies represent a disease spectrum from incidental to life-threatening. Anomalies of coronary artery origin and course are well-recognized in human medicine, but have received limited attention in veterinary medicine. Coronary artery anomalies are best described in the dog, hamster, and cow though reports also exist in the horse and pig.