Approach to young animal with murmur Flashcards
What is your first step when you detect a murmur in a young animal?
Determine if it is an:
Innocent murmur?
Murmur indicative of disease?
Why do young animals have ‘innocent/flow murmurs’?
Due to the fact neonates have lower PCV (so blood is less viscous), lower protein concentration (blood less viscous) and increased CO (because growing rapidly). These features predispose to turbulent flow –> low grade murmur (usually 3 out of 6 or 7)
Steps for young animal with a murmur which is indicative of disease? 5
Refine your DDx list with careful PE
Perform/interpret diagnostic tests in light of knowing what different diseases will do to the heart and circulation
Reach definitive diagnosis where possible
Referral?
Explore Tx where appropriate
What are flow murmurs?
May occur in normal young individuals. Characteristics:
no associated CS
Low intensity ( type in characteristic - i.e. crescendo-decrescendo
What do significant murmurs in young animals signify?
presence of congenital heart disease
Incidence - congenital heart disease
Variable with species
Highest in dogs (0.5-1% of all live births) - breed selection pressure
Types of congenital abnormality
VALVULAR MALFORMATIONS (dysplasia) –> stenosis or insufficiency of any of the heart valves
PRESISTENCE OF FOETAL VESSEL - PDA
VASCULATURE MALFORMATION - vascular ring anomlay, PRRA or PSS
SPETAL DEFECTS - heart or great vessels affected, complex, classically ToF, common AV canal, PTA
What are examples of heart disease that can be acquired at a young age?
Paroviral myocarditis - puppies
HCM - young cats
Why are murmurs discovered in young animals?
Indcidental finding - vaccination PE
Murmur with CS of heart disease (cyanosis, syncope, stunted growth)
Overt CHF
Non-cardiac signs (HE for PSS, regurgitation for VRA)
What about foals and PDA?
The murmur of PDA is audible in the majority of new-born foals but the diastolic component should disappear within a few days.
How can congenital heart disease be investigated?
Signalment, history Clincial exam Narrow DDx list Echo Radiography (less useful in horse) \+/- ECG
IF AVAILABLE: Doppler Echo Cardiac catheterisation Angiography Blood-gas estimation
BEST TIME: before onset of CS of HF rather than wait and see approach.
How do you refine the pathophysiology? 4
Is it due to a volume load or a pressure load?
Is heart murmur present with CS or not?
Is there evidence of hypertrophy?
Which chambers are affected?
What are continuous murmurs likely to be due to?
PDA
What are left heart base murmurs likely to be due to?
Stenosis of OF valve
What are intense right sided murmurs likely to be caused by?
VSD
What are dynamic pulses associated with?
PDA (waterhammer pulse) - higher SV, lower aortic diastolic pressure
What are dampened/poor pulses associated with?
Aortic stenosis
What aspects need to be considered on PE? 5
Do the location, timing and audibility of the murmur gives clues as to which sort of defect is present?
Pulse quality
Evidence of cyanosis?
Animal well grown compared to littermates? BCS?
Evidence of HF?