Congenital Heart Diseases Flashcards
What is a congenital heart disease?
persistent fetal circulation after birth or failure of normal cardiac development
- FETAL CIRCULATION = PDA, patent foramen ovale
- POOR NORMAL DEVELOPMENT = valvular dysplasia, ASD, VSD
What are the 3 ways blood can flow through the fetal RA?
- FORAMEN OVALE - shunts RA to LA to aorta since lung circulation is not as important in utero (closes at birth when LA pressure rises)
- DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS - shunts blood from PA to descending aorta (constricts after birth)
- PULMONARY ARTERY - RA to RV to PA, but high pressure tends to shunt less to the lungs
What 4 things happen to the CVS of fetuses when they are born?
- lung expansion - decreases pulmonary resistance, regresses right heart, remodels pulmonary arterioles
- left heart expansion
- closure of FO due to increasing LA pressure
- closure of DA with decreased PGE2 and increased oxygen tension
What are important questions for diagnosing congenital heart disease in dogs and cats?
- Is there a murmur in a young animal or is the history suggestive of CHD?
- What are the characteristics of the murmur? (location, timing, pulse quality)
- Is signalment supportive? (male vs. female, breed, age)
- Is the full history of the littermates, dam, sire, or relatives available?
- Do signs suggest CHD? (lethargy, exercise intolerance, respiratory signs, collapse, cyanosis, high PCV)
- Does patient need to be stabilized before transfer to specialist?
- What are the next steps for imaging? (rads, echo)
- Is watching and waiting an option?
- Is medical management indicated?
- Are surgical, catheter-based, or hybrid treatment options available?
- What is the prognosis with and without treatment?
- Can the animal have anesthesia for an elective procedure?
What genetic and sex predilection is associated with PDA?
SMALL BREEDS - Poodles, Yorkies, Maltese, Pomeranian, Bichon, Chihuahua, Cocker
mostly female (2:1)
What is the normal function of the ductus arteriosus? What likely causes it to remain patent?
shunts fetal blood away from nonfunctional lungs by connecting MPA to the descending aorta (should close within a few hours or birth and securely closed by 7-10 days)
lack of smooth muscle responsible for closing it
What results from a PDA? What does this cause?
left (systemic) to right (pulmonary) shunting
left-sided volume overload —> pulmonary over circulation, LA and LV dilation
What 2 physical exam findings are indicative of a PDA?
- heart murmur - PMI in left basilar region, continuous machinery sounding (continuous L to R shunting)
- hyperkinetic, water hammer, bounding pulses
How do most puppies present with PDA? What are clinical signs associated with?
asymptomatic (64% die of complications within 1 year)
size of shunt —> once tachypnea, coughing, exercise intolerance, and syncope develop, there is a high risk of death unless therapy can be initiated
What is seen on thoracic radiographs in cases of PDA?
- LA and LV enlargement
- ductal bump - bulge in descending aorta
- dilated MPA
- pulmonary venous and arterial distension
+/- pulmonary edema
What is occurring in this radiograph?
- enlarged LA
- ductal bump
- elongated cardiac silhouette
- congested pulmonary veins compared to arteries
PDA, radiographs:
- 3 knuckle sign - enlarged ductus diverticulum, descending aorta, and MPA/left auricle
- enlarged pulmonary veins/arteries
What 3 things are seen on echocardiography in cases of PDA?
- continuous retrograde flow into the PA
- LA and LV enlargement
- mitral regurgitation
What surgical treatment is available for PDA? What needs to be done prior?
- transarterial occlusion with Amplatz ductal occlude or coil embolization
- surgical ligation - smaller dogs/cats
(prognosis excellent with treatment)
treat CHF
What is reverse PDA? What does this result in?
persistent fetal pulmonary circulation causes pulmonary hypertension and a large DA causes no resistance to blood flow
pulmonary pressure rises dramatically due to pulmonary hypertension, which causes blood to flow from MPA into the descending aorta (Eisenmenger physiology)
What is the ultimate result of reverse PDA? What are 4 signs?
right to left shunt (less blood goes into lungs, deoxygenated blood enters systemic circulation)
- differential cyanosis of caudal mucous membranes and normal pink cranial membranes
- RV hypertrophy
- polycythemia secondary to hypoxia
- collapse with exercise, hind limb weakness
How does diagnosis of reverse PDA compare to normal PDA? What is commonly seen on echo?
typical murmur is absent, diagnosis is based on clinical suspicion and diagnostic tests
evidence of pulmonary hypertension and bubbles in descending aorta with agitated saline contrast (blood goes into systemic circulation rather than into the lungs, which would normally clear the bubbles)
How does treatment compare with reverse PDA? What are 3 options? What is prognosis like?
CANNOT occlude PDA
- Sildenafil - vasodilator treats pulmonary hypertension
- phlebotomy - done when PCV > 70% to get to a target of 60-65% (remove 10-20 mL/kg and replace same amount with fluids)
- Hydroxyurea, Cyclophosphamide - suppress erythropoiesis (may cause excessive BM suppression)
3-5 years
What is the cause of pulmonic stenosis? What is the most common location?
genetic/mutation —> varying degree of narrowing (thickened/fused leaflets, hypoplastic/narrow valve annulus)
valvular - dysplastic valve leaflets obstruct outflow where increased pressure is required to push through (RV hypertrophy)
What can cause subvalvular pulmonic stenosis?
- coronary artery anomalies
- concurrent abnormality in certain breeds - English Bulldogs, Boxers
What breeds are predisposed to developing pulmonic stenosis? What breed has a sex predilection?
SMALL BREEDS > large breeds
- Beagles, Boxers, Bulldogs
- Chihuahua
- Labs
- Chow Chow
- Mini Pin
Bulldogs - M>F
What does pulmonic stenosis lead to?
dysplastic valve leaflets cause pressure overload because more pressure is needed to push blood through —> RV hypertrophy with secondary RA enlargement
What 3 things are seen on radiographs and echo in cases of pulmonic stenosis?
- RV hypertrophy
- post-stenotic dilation - pulmonary artery dilated due to high velocity of blood hitting the wall
- severely high velocity of blood (> 80 mmHg) with Doppler
What history is associated with pulmonic stenosis? What 2 things are seen on PE?
- asymptomatic to right-sided CHF
- exercise intolerance
- syncope
- murmur - systolic, left basilar PMI (most cranial valve!)
- normal pulses
What are 3 late changes associated with pulmonic stenosis?
- right-sided CHF
- jugular venous distension
- distended abdomen
What 3 things are seen on thoracic radiographs in cases of pulmonic stenosis?
- RA and RV enlargement
- dilated MPA
- pulmonary underperfusion
+/- right-sided CHF —> ascites or pleural effusion
What is commonly seen on ECG with pulmonic stenosis?
tall P waves (P pulmonale) due to RA enlargement
Pulmonic stenosis, radiograph:
heart base bulge of MPA