Patent ductus arteriosus repair in general practice

A 3-month-old female German Shepherd puppy was presented for routine vaccination. Clinical evaluation revealed a grade 5/6 continuous murmur with the point of maximal intensity over the left 4th intercostal space. Echocardiography revealed a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). The PDA was closed by a team of general practitioners using the Jackson-Henderson technique, via a standard 4th intercostal thoracotomy. A multi-modal approach to analgesia and premedication was employed. A successful outcome was achieved with no murmur or evidence of cardiac disease present 6 months after surgical occlusion. The literature is reviewed with an emphasis placed on choosing techniques that are appropriate to the level of expertise of the surgical and anaesthetic teams, as well as the surgical facilities available.     

Patent ductus arteriosus with pulmonary hypertension in a cat

Patent ductus arteriosus with pulmonary hypertension and right to left shunting of blood flow was diagnosed in a 9-month-old female cat. Because of the pulmonary hypertension, the cat did not have typical signs of patent ductus arteriosus; thus, cardiac angiography and catheterization were utilized to confirm the diagnosis. The patent duct was successfully occluded with a vascular clip.     

Patent ductus arteriosus in a 9-day-old Grant's zebra

A 9-day old Grant's zebra with a 3-day history of lethargy, weight loss, inappetance, and diarrhea was treated with ampicillin, vitamin E and selenium, and tetanus antitoxin without effect in 24 h. On transfer to the local veterinary clinic, a grade IV/VI continuous heart murmur was detected and a patent ductus arteriosus found at necropsy.     

Patent ductus arteriosus: anatomy and surgery in a cat

A 5-month-old cat with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and probable small ventricular septal defect had severe cardiomegaly and congestive heart failure. The cat improved slightly with medical therapy and markedly after surgical closure of the ductus. A 4th left intercostal space thoracotomy gave good exposure. The external anatomy of the PDA was similar to that of a short, wide PDA in dogs; however, the internal aortic orifice was situated more cranial than in dogs, as evidenced by preoperative cardiac catheterization. Examination 1 year later showed marked reductions in heart size and electrocardiographic amplitude. The cat was 1 of 3 with clinically diagnosed PDA at the University of Pennsylvania from 1968 to 1980. The prevalence of PDA in 14,224 cats (0.2/1,000) was significantly less than in 68,049 dogs (4.7/1,000).     

Patent ductus arteriosus ligation and pulmonary artery banding in a kitten

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and ventricular septal defect were diagnosed in a 2-month-old, 0.9-kg, male kitten. This combination of PDA and ventricular septal defect in a cat has not been previously described. Surgical ligation of the PDA, together with palliation of the ventricular septal defect by pulmonary artery banding with a silastic band, successfully improved the kitten's condition.     

Patent ductus arteriosus in a dog: modified method of double ligation]

Patent ductus arteriosus, a common congenital cardio-vascular disease, needs surgery for correction. Three methods are described: 1. transsection and suturing of the ductus ends; 2. dissection of the ductus itself and occlusion by double ligation (classical method), 3. modified double ligation described by Jackson and Henderson. A modification of the technique is described, based on the previous methods of double ligation.     

Recanalized patent ductus arteriosus in the dog

In 140 consecutive operations for patent ductus arteriosus at the Michigan State University Veterinary Clinic over a period of 10 years, three animals have had recanalized defects (2 %), and of these, one dog recanalized for the second time. Of the 140 surgeries, fifteen were suture divisions and the remaining 125 were ligations. All recanalized cases had been ligated in the original operation. We believe, due to the ease of surgery, ligation is the preferred method. However, if the ductus recanalizes, division and suture should be accomplished in the second operation.     

Etiology of patent ductus arteriosus in dogs

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is the most common congenital heart disease in dogs and usually causes heart failure and death unless corrected at a young age. Previous histologic studies in a line of dogs derived from Miniature Poodles with hereditary PDA identified varying degrees of hypoplasia and asymmetry of ductus-specific smooth muscle and the presence of aortalike elastic tissue in the ductus wall sufficient to cause patency. To determine if similar structural abnormalities cause PDA in other dogs, serial-section, 3-dimensional histology of ductal architecture was studied in 8 non-Poodle purebred dogs with PDA with no immediate family history of PDA. Morphologic abnormalities were observed in 7 of 8 dogs with PDA and essentially were the same as those in dogs known to have a hereditary form of PDA. These findings suggest that apparently sporadic PDA in these breeds is caused by a genetic defect in the structure of the ductus arteriosus that is similar or identical to that in the Poodle. The relatives of dogs with PDA, particularly parents, offspring, and siblings, should be screened for evidence of PDA. Dogs with PDA should not be used for breeding, regardless of breed.     

Reversed patent ductus arteriosus in a dog.

A 5-year-old cocker spaniel with tachycardia, > 2 s capillary refill time, arrhythmia, split S2 heart sound, right ventricular enlargement, flattened interventricular septum, dilated pulmonary artery, and slight tricuspid valve insufficiency was diagnosed with reversed patent ductus arteriosus (right-to-left vs the more common left-to-right shunt). Two years later, the dog was still stable.