Heartworm Disease Flashcards
1
Q
What is heartworm disease the result of?
A
Parasitic infection by filarid nematodes = Dirofilaria immitis
- they reside in the pulmonary arteries
- also found in right atrium and ventricle and the vena cava
2
Q
Is heartworm disease cause a right or left sided heart failure?
A
Right sided heart failure - caused by pressure overload of the right ventricle from pulmonary hypertension leads to tricuspid regurgitation and systolic myocardial failure of the right side of the heart
3
Q
Caval syndrome
A
Occurs when a large number of worms mature over a short period of time and localize in the cranial and caudal vena cava and right atrium
4
Q
Treatments
A
- Heparin - reduce incidence of thromboembolism
- Sugery
- Furosemide and ACE inhibitors
