Misc.

Question 1

What will you see on radiographs for a peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia?

Answer 1

The intestines have gone through the diaphragm into the peritoneal/pericardial space
Therefore you can see something that looks like fluid but is irregular
In the pericardium there will be gas (intestines)
No clear demarcation of diaphragm/liver and heart silhouette

Question 2

What will you see on radiographs for a pericardial effusion?

Answer 2

The heart silhouette will be a sharp line

-The heart is beating somewhere inside, and is not moving the pericardium

Question 3

What 3 things will cause a loss of serosal detail in the thorax on radiograph?

Answer 3

Loss of fat
Peritoneal effusion
Large soft tissue mass

Question 4

Will an acute or chronic pericardial effusion most likely have more fluid involved?

Answer 4

Chronic

-The heart and pericardium has had time to compensate slowly over time

Question 5

What is cardiac tamponade?

Answer 5

Compression of the heart from an accumulation of fluid in the pericardial sac

Question 6

Is the left or right side of the heart more affected by cardiac tamponade usually and why?

Answer 6

Right side

-Because it has lower pressure to begin with

Question 7

What are the 2 classes of pericardial effusion?

Answer 7

Benign, idiopathic

Malignant

Question 8

Describe the process of performing pericardiocentesis?

Answer 8

Usually done on RHS
ECG +/- sedation in lateral or sternal recumbency
-Can cause ventricular premature contractions
Looking to go near the point of maximum intensity
Clip, prep, lidocaine
Make extra holes in catheter
Small nick in skin just in front of the ribs
Advance over-the-needle catheter with extension set and large syringe attached
Apply gentle negative pressure
Looking for ‘shiraz’ liquid
Withdraw needle and advance catheter as far as possible
Watch for VPC’s, and pull back if this happens
Drain using 3-way tap and 60ml syringe

Question 9

How can you differentiate pleural and pericardial fluid in a pericardiocentesis?

Answer 9

The pleural fluid will be straw coloured

Pericardial fluid will be red, haemorrhagic

Question 10

How can yo differentiate pericardial fluid from normal blood in a pericardiocentesis?

Answer 10

The pericardial fluid will be non-clotting because of the constant agitation from the heart
-Leave it and see if it clots

Question 11

When performing cytology after a pericardiocentesis, what cell type can look malignant but isn’t?

Answer 11

Reactive mesothelial cells

-From infection or inflammation process in the body

Question 12

Are cardiac tumours common?

Answer 12

Not really

Question 13

Are cardiac tumours associated with effusion?

Answer 13

Not always

Question 14

What are the most common types of cardiac tumours?

Answer 14

Haemangiosarcoma
-Most common
-Right auricle
Chemodectomas
-Heart base benign tumour
Ectopic thyroid or parathyroid

Question 15

If you diagnose a splenic haemangiosarcoma, what should you then do?

Answer 15

Ultrasound the heart to see if it has metastasised there

Question 16

What are some clinical signs of heartworm in dogs?

Answer 16

Reduced exercise intolerance
Fatigue and lethargy
Weight loss
Good appetite still 
Dyspnoea
Syncope and hemoptysis 
Crackle pulmonary sounds over caudal lung lobes
Splitting of the second heart sound

Question 17

What will you see on radiographs if a dog has heartworm?

Answer 17

Main pulmonary artery looks like a ‘knuckle’
Very large pulmonary artery
Interstitial or alveolar lung pattern