Pericardial diseases Flashcards
How frequent are pericardial diseases in cats
Pericardial diseases are uncommon in the cat and usually are associated with other diseases such as effusions secondary to cardiomyopathy, feline infectious peritonitis or cardiac tumors
What is the pathomechanism explaining signs of pericardial diseases
Signs of pericardial disease are usually caused by impedance to venous return (reduced preload)
Consequently, vebous congestion leads to signs of right-sided congestive heart failure (i.e., peritoneal and/or pleural effusion, hepatomegaly and congested hepatic veins)
- congestion of jugular veins may also be obsereved
As the heart is not getting adequate blood in, signs of poor cardiac output (e.g., pale gums, and poor peripheral pulses) may also be a feature of the pericardial disease
How frequent is peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia in cats
Peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia is the most common congenital disorder of the pericardium
What does peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia refer to
PPDH is characterized by a communication that allows cranial displacement of abdominal viscera into the pericardial space, but not the pleural cavity
- this anomaly is present at birth, however many cases are discovered as adults
What are the clinical signs associated with PPDH
Generally, if signs are present, they are related to:
- the gastrointestinal tract (vomiting)
- the respiratory system (dyspnoea)
- cardiac tamponade (weakness, poor pulses, distended jugular veins and other signs of right-sided congestive heart failure)
The hernia may also be accompanied by other defects such as abdominal hernias or sternal deformities
How would you make a diagnosis of PPDH
The diagnosis is usually made by radiography
- the cardiac silhouette is enlarged
- sometimes abdominal viscera may be appreciated within the pericardial space (e.g., GIT gas)
The definitive diagnostic modality is echocardiography
- abdominal viscera can be seen abutting the heart
