Congenital heart disease in the dog and cat 1 + 2 Flashcards
(51 cards)
Which congenital condition causes a continuous heart murmur?
Patent ductus ateriosus
List some examples of congenital heart conditions that cause systolic murmurs
- Aortic stenosis
- Pulmonic stenosis
- Ventricular septal defect
- Mitral dysplasia
- Tricuspid dysplasia
Describe the features of an innocent flow murmur
Low intensity, systolic, localised at the left heart base, musical
puppies and kittens - should disappear by 20wo
Which congenital heart defect causes a weak pulse quality?
Aortic stenosis
A ‘bounding’ pulse can be seen in which 2 congenital heart defects?
Patent ductus arteriosus
Ventricular septal defect
Where does a patent ductus arteriosus run in the heart?
PDA runs from the descending aorta into the pulmonary artery
What is the main consequence of a patent ductus arteriosus?
Left sided volume overload
Describe the pathophysiology of a patent ductus arteriosus
- Shunt from desc. Aorta to Pulmonary artery
- Aortic pressure > Pulmonic in both systole & diastole (continuous murmur)
- Continuous “run-off” of blood into pulm. circ. (femoral pulse may be “tapping” or “waterhammer”)
- Pulmonary over-circulation (Radiographs: can see increased pulmonary vessel size)
- Volume overload of LA & LV
- Dilation of Mitral valve annulus: secondary mitral regurgitation
- Increased LA & LV EDP results in LHF
- Myocardial failure is a common consequence
Describe the direction of the shunt in a PDA
Left to right
Describe the predispositions for a PDA
Rare in cats: common defect in dogs
Bitches much more commonly affected than males
Breeds: German shepherd dog, collies, bichon, poodle, CKCS, Irish setter
Describe how the clinical signs develop in a patient with a PDA
- Initially, pup may be completely asymptomatic
- Continuous murmur, left axilla, may be very localised (so often missed at first puppy exam)
- Murmur may radiate (esp. systolic component)
- Secondary murmur (systolic) of MR
- Rapidly collapsing femoral pulse: “tapping”, “waterhammer” “hyperkinetic”; due to large systolic - diastolic pulse pressure difference.
What happens if a PDA goes untreated/unnoticed?
By about 7yo CHF will develop
How will a PDA present on a radiograph?
- Left atrial & LV enlargement
- “Apparent” right sided enlargement
- On DV, may have pathognomic “triple knuckle” (Aortic, pulmonic and left auricular appendage bulges).
- Pulmonary over-circulation (arteries & veins increased)
- +/- Radiographic evidence of LHF
Describe the ECG changes seen in patients with a PDA
Evidence of LA and LV enlargement
P mitrale
Tall R waves (can be VERY tall)
Arrhythmias may occur (e.g. atrial fibrillation)
How is a PDA treated?
- Before CHF develops
- Surgery: ligation of the ductus
- Device based occlusion of the ductus by cardiac catheterization
Patient will be cured
Name the most common congenital heart defect in dogs?
Sub-aortic stenosis
Describe the predisposition of subaortic stenosis
- Breeds: Boxers, Newfoundlands, golden retrievers, Rottweilers, Bull terrier, miniature bull terrier
- No sex predisposition
- Uncommon in cats but severe
Describe the pathophysiology of aortic stenosis
- Fixed (or dynamic) obstruction at aortic valve or LVOT level
- Increased afterload on LV: develops concentric hypertrophy (LVH) (Pressure overload)
- Increased aortic velocities
- Coronary perfusion compromised (poor coronary filling and increased wall stress; coronaries do not “keep up” with LVH)
- Myocardial ischaemia may result in ventricular arrhythmias
Describe the clinical signs of aortic stenosis
- Harsh, ejection type mid to holosystolic heart murmur
- Grade of heart murmur corresponds to severity of stenosis
- Radiates up carotids and on right chest
- Femoral pulses may be weak
- Left heart base murmur
Aortic regurgitation may cause what kind of murmur?
Audible (diastolic) murmur: gives a “to-and-fro” murmur
Which diagnostic method is best to diagnose aortic stenosis?
Doppler echocardiography
Describe how doppler echocardiography is used to diagnose aortic stenosis
- 2D sub-valvular or valvular (rarely supra-valvular) lesions may be appreciated
- Post-stenotic dilation of the aorta may be recognised.
- Colour flow Doppler shows turbulence in the LV outflow tract and aorta, around the obstruction
Describe how aortic outflow velocity (measure on doppler) is used in diagnosis of aortic stenosis
In normal dogs, aortic velocity is less than 1.7 m/s.
Velocities >2.0 or 2.2 m/s are usually consistent with aortic stenosis.
The higher the velocity, the more severe the stenosis.
Describe the equation used to assess the pressure gradient across the valve in aortic stenosis
The modified Bernouilli equation can be used to convert Doppler velocity (v) into pressure gradient (PG) across the valve
0 - 50 mmHg MILD
50 - 80 mmHg MODERATE
> 80 mmHg SEVERE