Challenges of cardiopulmonary bypass-a review of the veterinary literature.

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) has been used in veterinary medicine in experimental surgery and to address congenital and acquired diseases. We review the veterinary literature and expose common challenges of CPB in dogs and cats. Specifically, we describe the most specific elements of this technique in veterinary patients.

Caudal vena cava kinking in dogs with ascites.

A 9-year-old dog with spontaneous ascites was found to have hepatic vein distension and a tortuous vena cava on abdominal ultrasound. In right lateral recumbency, the caudal vena cava crossed the diaphragm and became kinked before entering into the right atrium. Following this observation, we performed an experimental study in a normal dog to determine whether kinking of the caudal vena cava could be the result and not the cause of ascites.

Congenital coronary-pulmonary arterial shunt in a German shepherd dog: diagnosis and surgical correction.

Background: A 10 week-old intact female German shepherd dog was examined because of a heart murmur.

Methods: An echocardiogram revealed an extracardiac left-to-right shunt. An angiogram identified shunting between the aorta and the pulmonary artery in an unusual location.

Septicemia in a young dog following treatment of patent ductus arteriosus via coil occlusion.

CASE DESCRIPTION-A 12-week-old female English Springer Spaniel was evaluated for lethargy, vomiting, and pyrexia 1 week after treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) via coil occlusion. CLINICAL FINDINGS-Test results were consistent with septicemia, and the assumption was made that the PDA occlusion coils were infected. Radiography revealed partial migration of the coil mass into the pulmonary artery and signs of congestive heart failure.

Use of a jugular vein graft in a modified Blalock-Taussig procedure in dogs.

Objective: To determine whether autologous jugular veins provide functional grafts with high 30-day patency rates in an experimental model of systemic-to-pulmonary shunting performed with a modified Blalock-Taussig procedure.

Animals: 15 healthy Beagles.

Procedure: A segment of the left jugular vein was implanted between the left subclavian and pulmonary arteries.

Atrioventricular nodal ablation and His-bundle pacing: an acute canine model for proarrhythmic risk assesment.

Introduction: QT interval prolongation following drug exposure is considered a marker for increased risk of drug-induced arrhythmias. QT interval measurements are common components of the safety pharmacology assessment of new therapeutic compounds but are potentially confounded by concurrent changes in heart rate that also alter QT intervals. We describe an anesthetized canine model of AV dissociation with His-bundle pacing that overcomes the confounding effects of a change in heart rate.