SA Respiratory and CV Flashcards
What is the function of a cough?
Removes material from airways:
Assists mucociliary clearance
Expels inhaled material
Protects against inhaling particles/inhalants
Where are mechanoreceptors located?
What about chemoreceptors?
Mechanoreceptors: larger airways
Chemoreceptors: medium airways
Where are cough receptors most numerous?
Larynx > trachea > bifurcation > bronchi
Give some common differential diagnoses of coughing
Compression of mainstem lobar bronchi (eg left atrial enlargement)
Stimulation of cough receptors (eg tracheal/laryngeal/bronchial disorders)
Excessive mucous/fluid/inflammation (eg pulmonary oedema, pneumonia, bronchopneumonia)
Chronic bronchitis is mainly seen in which kinds of dogs?
Small breed dogs
How should a cat’s thorax feel when compressed?
Springy
What might you see on a radiograph of a dog with chronic bronchitis?
‘Tram lines’
Rings- thickened bronchial walls
Give some characteristic changes to the bronchi caused by chronic bronchitis
Excessive mucous production Damage to cilia Increased goblet cell numbers Hyperplasia of submucosal glands Loss of ciliated epithelium Squamous metaplasia of mucosa Secondary infections are common
How does a dog with chronic bronchitis present?
Chronic cough with attempts at production
Worse on excitement
Can you cure chronic bronchitis?
No, therapeutic goal is to manage it with bronchodilators and steroids (anti-inflammatory glucocorticoids). Avoid systemic steroids to prevent weight gain
How can you investigate a suspected chronic bronchitis case?
Thoracic radiographs
Haematology
Bronchoscopy
Bronchoalveolar lavage to obtain samples for cytology/bacteriology/parasitology
When doing a bronchoalveolar lavage in a dog, how much saline should you use?
1/2ml per kg bodyweight
If you see worms on a tracheobronchoscopy what are they likely to be?
Crenosoma vulpis (fox lungworm)
When you do a bronchoalveolar lavage, how much fluid should you expect to aspirate back?
50%
What cells are normal to see on a BAL fluid analysis?
Goblet cells
Ciliated columnar epithelial cells (CCECs)
If you see macrophages containing bacteria on a BAL fluid analysis, what does this tell you?
There is an active infection
What are the normal values in BAL fluid analysis for: WBC Macrophages Neutrophils Lymphocytes Eosinophils
WBC: <5x10^9/l Macrophages: 70% Neutrophils: 20% Lymphocytes: 10% Eosinophils: <20-25%
What would you see on a cytology of BAL fluid in chronic bronchitis?
Increased mucous, neutrophils, macrophages
Possibly squamous metaplasia of normal ciliated columnar epithelial cells
Presence of bacteria/particulate matter
If you do a BAL in a dog with chronic bronchitis and you see Simonsiella, what does this mean?
Oral contamination
How can you manage chronic bronchitis (non-medically)?
Weight control
Harness rather than collar
Avoid irritants/smoking environment
Mucous is easier to shift if hydrated-avoid dry environments
Give the functions of bronchodilators
Reduce spasm of lower airways
Reduce intra-thoracic pressures
Reduce tendency of larger airways to collapse
Improve diaphragmatic function
Improves muco-ciliary clearance
Inhibit mast cell degranulation (reduced release of mediators of bronchoconstriction)
Prevent microvascular leakage
Give some functions of glucocorticoids
Anti-inflammatory Broncho-dilatory Inhibit prostaglandin synthesis Potentiate beta-2 adrenergic activity -> bronchodilation Reverse increased vascular permeability Alter macrophage function Modulate the immune system
Would you give antibiotics when treating chronic bronchitis?
Most chronic bronchitis cases are not caused by bacteria
Only give antibiotics if secondary infection is possible, or if culture and sensitivity results are positive, or if intracellular bacteria are seen on BALF cytology
If you decide to use antibiotics when treating respiratory tract infections, what criteria should it fit?
Needs to concentrate in the lung
Needs to be effective against resp. pathogens
Should be bacteriocidal
Need to treat for 3 weeks minimum
Give some examples of antibiotics used for respiratory infections
Clavulonate potentiated amoxicillin (broad-spectrum)
Cephalexin (mainly gram -ves)
TMP sulphonamides (broad-spectrum)
Fluoroquinalones (broad-spectrum)
Clindamycin (mainly gram +ves and anaerobes)
Doxycycline (Mycoplasma or Bordatella)
Metronidazole (anaerobic, some bronchopneumonias)
Eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy (EBP) usually affects which kinds of dogs? What is thought to be the cause?
Young dogs, large breeds
Hypersensitivity to inhaled allergens
What would you see on a bronchoscopy of a dog with eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy?
What would you see on a BALF cytology?
Copious amounts of yellow-green mucous
Lots of eosinophils (>25%)
How do you treat eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy?
Prednisalone (2mg/kg/alternate days) (immunosuppressive)
Why do cats have an expiratory dyspnoea with feline asthma?
The bronchioles are more constricted during expiration
How does the chest of a cat with feline asthma differ on a radiograph?
What should you also look out for?
Chest is more concave
Look out for fractured ribs (cats can be so dyspnoeic that they fracture ribs)
How can you care for a dyspnoeic cat with feline asthma?
Minimise stress
Provide humidified oxygen
Give IV steroids
Bronchodilators (eg terbutaline)
Consider MDI (metered-dose inhalers) administration of bronchodilators (salbutamol, fluticasone)
Severe life-threatening distress: adrenaline
Chronic cases: prednisolone
What kind of coughing is seen with bronchial foreign bodies?
Sudden onset
If long-standing, may be halitosis
What is orthopnoea?
Extreme form of dyspnoea
Animals have to sit up/stand to breathe and adopt an air-hungry position with abducted elbows
Give some differential diagnoses of inspiratory dyspnoea
Laryngeal neoplasia/paralysis
Tracheal mass/stenosis
Give some differential diagnoses of expiratory dyspnoea
Feline asthma
Dynamic airway collapse (small airway collapse; only hear wheezing with stethoscope)
Give some differential diagnoses of both inspiratory and expiratory dyspnoea
Pulmonary parenchymal disease (eg pneumonia)
Pleural effusions
Pneumothorax
Pulmonary thromboembolism
What kind of disease causes restrictive dyspnoea
Pulmonary and pleural disease
Does restrictive dyspnoea occur on inspiration or expiration?
Both
What kind of obstruction is present with obstructive dyspnoea on inspiration and expiration?
Inspiration: upper airway obstruction
Expiration: bronchial narrowing
When giving oxygen therapy, what should the value of inspired O2 be?
Why should you avoid 100% oxygen for more than a short time?
30-50%
Oxygen toxicity
Oxygen must be humidified
Pneumonia in small animals is usually associated with what?
Broncho-pneumonia
Give some causes of aspiration pneumonia
Megaoesophagus
Laryngeal paralysis
After tie-back surgery
Regarding pneumonia, what does a ventral distribution (on radiograph) suggest?
Airway disease or aspiration as the initiating factor
Regarding pneumonia, what does caudodorsal lung involvement (on radiograph) suggest?
Haematogenous spread
What is pneumocystis carinii?
What does is respond to?
A yeast-like fungus
Causes pneumonia
Cavalier King Charles puppies have immunoglobulin deficiency and may present with dyspnoea due to pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
Only responds to TMP sulphonamides
Where is angiostrongylus vasorum found in the dog?
Pulmonary vessels
french heartworm
A ‘goose honk’ cough is associated with what?
Tracheal collapse
When radiographing a mass on the right lung lobe, which view should you use?
Left lateral
When is it safe to do a lung mass aspirate?
If you’re not going through air-filled lung
If the mass is next to the chest wall (or risk pneumothorax)
Can be ultrasound-guided
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis typically affects which dog breeds?
Terriers, especially west highland white terriers
Describe the presentation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Slow, insidious progression
Inspiratory and expiratory dyspnoea, rapid shallow breathing, can develop rectus abdominis hypertrophy and become cyanotic on minimal exertion
Characteristic ‘crackles’ (inspiratory) on lungfield auscultation (dynamic airway collapse)
Become severely disabled
Active inflammation on CT scan
How do you treat idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis?
Symptomatic support-nothing proven to be effective
General management: restrict exercise and excitement
Bronchodilators? (esp if dynamic airway collapse or concurrent chronic bronchitis)
Anti-fibrotics? (eg colchicine)
Steroids? (prednisolone)
Home O2 delivery? (when distressed)
Describe paraquat poisoning
Weedkiller, severe pneumotoxin
Severe dyspnoea
Initial alveolitis progresses to severe pulmonary fibrosis
Very poor prognosis-PTS
Is pulmonary thromboembolism usually primary or secondary?
Secondary to underlying systemic disease eg IMHA, DIC, PLN, Cushings, pancreatitis, sepsis (not usually cardiac dz)
(losing protein -> lose clotting factor -> clots more likely)
When should you suspect pulmonary thromboembolism?
Sudden onset dyspnoea
How can you confirm pulmonary thromboembolism?
Blood gas analysis Coagulation screen (including D-dimers)
How do you treat pulmonary thromboembolism?
O2 supplementation
Sedation/anxiolytics
Treat underlying disease (eg DIC)
Anticoagulant treatment to prevent further episodes (eg heparin)
Anti-platelet medication (eg clopidogrel)
What is ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome)? Give some initiating factors
Non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema
Respiratory distress with alveolar infiltrates on radiographs
Pneumonia, electrocution, smoke inhalation, near drowning, trauma, sepsis, DIC
Should you be concerned if you see pleural plaques on a radiograph?
What do they look like?
No-they are incidental findings
Small, white, calcified, dense, 1-2mm
What is a holter monitor?
Records ECG for 24 hours
Give some cardiac causes of episodic weakness/syncope
Compromised cardiac output
- Congenital heart disease (esp aortic stenosis, patent ductus arteriosis)
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (cats)
- Cardiac tamponade
- Cardiac neoplasia
Cardiac arrhythmias
- Tachyarrhythmia
- Bradyarrhythmia
Give some causes of tachyarrhythmia
Atrial fibrillation Supraventricular/atrial premature complexes Ventricular premature complexes Supraventricular tachycardia Ventricular tachycardia
How would atrial fibrillation appear on an ECG?
No p waves
Irregularly irregular ventricular rhythm
Normal narrow QRS complexes (as arrhythmia is originating above AV node)
What is atrial fibrillation associated with in small animals?
Cardiac disease-atrial stretch
How do you treat atrial fibrillation?
Treat underlying cardiac disease and aim to control ventricular response to the AF
To control, you can use digoxin, beta blockers (not if underlying CHF), Ca2+ channel blockers
What is digoxin?
Weak positive inotrope (increases heart contractility) Negative chronotope (slows HR) Enhances vagal tone (slows down no of waves of depolarisation that reach the ventricles) Indicated for: -Atrial fibrillation -Other supraventricular arrhythmias -Sinus tachycardia -Poor systolic function
Why should you be careful when increasing the dose of Digoxin when treating atrial fibrillation?
Toxicity; need to add Diltiazem (calcium channel blocker)
When treating atrial fibrillation with Digoxin, what should the desired digoxin level be after 5-7 days?
0.5-0.9 ng/ml
What is Diltiazem?
Calcium channel blocker used to treat atrial fibrillation Negative inotrope (reduces contractility but this is rarely a problem) Vasodilator (as affects vascular smooth muscle as well as myocardium)
When Digoxin and Diltiazem are used together to treat atrial fibrillation, which drug starts to work first?
Diltiazem
Digoxin kicks in after a week
Should you ever use beta blockers to treat uncontrolled CHF?
NO
Describe emergency treatment of supraventricular tachycardia
Vagal manoeuvres (apply gentle pressure to eyeballs, carotid sinus massage under jaw) IV Esmolol (beta blocker) IV Verapamil (Ca2+ channel blocker)
How would conduction via the accessory pathway appear on an ECG?
Short P-R interval
‘Delta’ waves can occur in animals with which heart condition?
Supraventricular tachycardia caused by Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
Give some underlying causes of ventricular ectopic focuses
Underlying cardiac disease; CHF (ischaemia, myocardial hypoxia etc)
Acidosis
Hypokalaemia
Catecholamines (eg stress, pain etc)
Abdominal disease (GDV, splenic lesions, sepsis, perforated gastric ulcer, pancreatitis etc)
Thoracic trauma (myocardial contusions)
When should you treat ventricular ectopics?
If it is haemodynamically significant
If HR is very fast/there is close coupling/’R on T’
If multifocal
Monitor with halter
What are the 4 classes of anti-arrhythmic drugs?
Class 1: sodium channel blockers (slows uptake of action potential)
Class 2: beta-blockers
Class 3: potassium channel blockers (delays repolarisation/lengthens action potential duration)
Class 4: calcium channel blockers (act on SAN or AVN) (treat supra-ventricular arrhythmias)
How would you treat a ventricular tachyarrhythmia?
Lidocaine (IV boluses; sodium channel blocker)
Sotalol (oral beta blocker)
Mexilitine (oral; sodium channel blocker)
Amiodarone (oral; potassium channel blocker)
How would you identify atrial standstill on an ecg?
No p waves
T waves are spiky and symmetrical
Normal QRS complexes
How would you identify a 2nd degree block on an ecg?
Non-conducting P wave, 3-4 normal QRS, non-conducting P wave
How would you identify a 3rd degree block on an ecg?
How would you treat?
Atria and ventricles are depolarising independently
P-P intervals are regular
QRS complexes have a regular R-R interval
P-R interval is varied
(Impulse generated in the SAN does not propagate to the ventricles)
Tx: Pacemaker
How would you identify a 1st degree block on an ecg?
Long P-R interval
Impulse travelling from atria to ventricles is delayed and travels slower than normal
How would you treat bradyarrhythmias?
Exclude/treat underlying disorders (eg hyperkalaemia, hypothyroidism etc)
Vagally mediated? Try response to anticholinergics: atropine response test (expect >50% increase in HR after 30-40 mins)
Life threatening: b-agonist eg isoproteranol or b2-agonist eg terbutaline
Oral meds: anticholinergics (eg atropine, propantheline), beta sympathomimetics (terbutaline), xanthine derivatives (eg theophyline)
Why would we measure blood pressure?
Anaesthetic monitoring
Assessing severity of heart disease
Identification of systemic hypertension
Assessing response to drugs (eg vasodilators)
How do we measure blood pressure?
Direct method (more likely in anaesthetised patients) Indirect methods (Doppler, oscillometric technique)
What is meant by systemic hypertension?
Blood pressure above normal for the species/breed
What is the normal blood pressure range for dogs?
(S/D) 133/75 mmHg
Sight hounds have higher blood pressure than other breeds (150/87 mmHg)
What is the normal blood pressure range for cats?
(S/D) 125/80 mmHg
What are the definitions of systemic hypertension for systolic and diastolic pressure?
Systolic: >160/175/180 mmHg
Diastolic: >95-100 mmHg
(eg 175/100 mmHg)
Give some disease associated with secondary systemic hypertension?
Chronic renal disease Hyperthyroidism (cats) Hyperadrenocorticism Diabetes mellitus Liver diseases Hypothyroidism Acromegaly (excess GH) Obesity CNS disease Chronic anaemia (cats) Phaeochromocytoma (adrenal gland tumour) Hyperaldosteronism
Give some consequences of systemic hypertension
Ocular (retinal haemorrhage, hyphaema-pooled blood in anterior chamber of eye, retinal detachment, blindness)
CNS (seizures, dull and depressed, bad-tempered)
Renal (failure, proteinuria etc)
Cardiac (pressure overload -> concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, heart murmurs)
What is the difference between eccentric and concentric ventricular hypertrophy?
Eccentric: volume overload. Wall thickness increases in proportion to the increase in chamber radius
Concentric: chronic pressure overload. Wall thickness increases but the chamber radius may not change, ventricle becomes stiff
What should you do after diagnosing systemic hypertension?
Check for end-organ damage (examine retinas, history and neuro exam, check urine SG and protein:creatinine ratio, ECG)
Search for an underlying cause as primary hypertension is rare in cats and dogs
Which drug can you use to treat systemic hypertension?
What doses would you use for dogs and cats?
Amlodipine (calcium channel antagonist with only vascular effects)
Cats: start at 1/4 of 5mg tablet, SID
Dogs: start at 0.05-0.1mg/kg SID or BID
Check BP after 1 week, increase dose if required
When treating systemic hypertension, what can you use as well as Amlodipine to protect the kidneys?
Ace inhibitors
reduce glomerular capillary pressure
What is the difference between a thrombus and embolus?
Thrombus= initial clot Embolus= clot which breaks off and travels down blood vessels
Why may a blood clot form?
Circulatory stasis
Hypercoagulable state
Endothelial injury
(Known as Virchow’s triad)
Where do feline arterial thrombus’ usually form?
Left atrium
What is FATE in cats?
Describe the physiology
Feline arterial thrombo-embolism
Thrombus forms, usually in left atrium, due to stasis of flow within the heart (any feline cardiomyopathy)
Embolisms may be to any region-often distal aorta (aortic trifurcation)
Severe clinical signs, pain etc
Emergency presentation
What is the major clinical sign of a cat presenting with FATE?
Loss of use of HLs
Marked pain, pale nail beds
What would be your first priority when seeing a cat with FATE?
Adequate analgesia
How do you treat FATE?
Priority: adequate analgesia and anxiolytic eg methadone, aspirin
Consider ‘clot busting’ drugs eg tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) if <6-12 hours of event
Stabilise underlying heart failure if present
Inhibit further platelet aggregation and activation eg aspirin, heparin
Prevent collateral vasoconstriction caused by thromboxane, serotonin etc (aspirin)
Grave prognosis, 50% survival rate
How can you prevent FATE in at-risk cats?
Low-dose aspirin (1/4 of 75mg aspirin every 3 days)
Clopidogrel (anti-platelet; inhibits blood clots) (better than aspirin)
Low molecular weight heparin
Treat cardiac disease as appropriate
Which dog breed may be pre-disposed to arterial thrombo-embolism?
Cavaliers
What is canine arterial thrombo-embolism associated with?
Rarely heart disease
More commonly associated with an endocrinopathy eg cushings, hypothyroidism
How would you identify canine thrombo-embolism?
Dogs present with HL weakness or pain, worse with exercise, sometimes only single limb
Pale/pulseless/cold compared with non-affected limb
Give some causes of pulmonary hypertension
Pulmonary vascular changes (eg retained foetal vasculature) -> pulmonary hypertension -> right to left shunting across congenital heart defects Heart worm Pulmonary thromboembolism Left-sided heart failure Primary severe respiratory conditions
How can you diagnose pulmonary hypertension?
Clinical exam: loud S2, loud TR murmur (tricuspid regurgitation)
Radiographs: dilated, tortuous or pruned pulmonary arteries
Doppler echo: dilated and hypertrophic RV, dilated pulmonary trunk, high velocity TR, PR jets
How do you treat pulmonary hypertension?
Treat underlying disease
Pimobendan?
Sildenafil (Viagra)
How do you diagnose pulmonary thrombo-embolism in dogs?
Arterial blood gas analysis: large alveolar to arterial gradient (A-a) showing significant ventilation:perfusion mismatch
Identify clot breakdown products: FDPs, D-dimers
Give some clinical signs of heartworm
Weight loss, fatigue, cough, dyspnoea
Which side of the heart are canine heartworms found?
Right
How do you diagnose canine heartworm?
Direct smear
Microfilaria concentration tests eg Modified Knott’s test
Heartworm antigen tests (only detects females)
Antibody test
Which drugs will prevent canine heartworm?
Selamectin (Stronghold), monthly topical
Milbemycin (Milbemax) (with praziquantel), po monthly
Moxidectin (Advocate) (with imidacloprid), monthly topical
What are Wolbachia?
Obligate, intracellular, gram negative, endo-symbiotic bacteria
Found in uterus of female Dirofilaria immitis
Treat with doxycycline prior to melarsamine
What adulticide would you use to treat Dirofilaria?
Melarsomine Dihydrochloride
What is angiostrongylus vasorum?
‘French heart worm’
Adults are 2cm long
Metastrongyle parasite of dogs and foxes
Slugs and snails=intermediate host
What are the clinical signs of angiostrongylus vasorum?
Often young dogs May be asymptomatic Chronic, unresponsive coughing Dyspnoea, haemoptysis (coughing up blood/bloody mucus) Ill thrift, exercise intolerance, CHF SC and retinal haemorrhages Paresis, ocular changes
How do you diagnose angiostrongylosis?
Thoracic radiography (mixed pulmonary infiltrates) Eosinophilia Raised beta-globulins SNAP test (for antigen) Larvae in faeces (Baermanns)
How do you treat angiostrongylosis?
Fenbendazole (slowly kills over 36 hours)
Milbemycin oxime (with praziquantel)
Moxidectin (with imidacloprid)
Prednisolone if severe pulmonary changes
How can you prevent angiostrongylus?
Moxidectin or Milbemycin every 4 weeks
Describe MDVD
Acquired condition (happens over time) Small breeds; middle-aged/older dogs Most common cardiac disease Idiopathic Nodular thickening -> leakage Cardiac valve leaflets Proteoglycan accumulation Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Give some other names for MDVD
Myxomatous degenerative valvular disease Degenerative valvular heart disease Mitral endocadiosis Chronic valvular insufficiency Suspected genetic basis Lengthened/ruptured chordae
Give the macroscopical pathology of MVDV
Left atrium dilation
Left ventricle dilation
Elongation and thickening of chordae tendinae, which may rupture
Thickened leaflets
Jet lesions may be seen in atrial endocardium
Describe the microscopic pathology of MDVD
Accumulation of glycosaminoglycans within the valve leaflets with disrupted collagen matrix
What is the difference between eccentric and concentric hypertrophy?
Eccentric: walls stay at an appropriate thickness (no change in chamber volume)
Concentric: increase in wall thickness and reduced chamber volume
Define MDVD
Nodular thickening of the cardiac valve leaflets associated with proteoglycan accumulation.
The atrioventricular valves (especially mitral valve) are most commonly affected, with the aortic valves being affected to a lesser extent
Which kind of hypertrophy is seen with MDVD and why?
Eccentric: dilated left atrium and ventricle due to chronic volume overload
Describe the likely presentation of a dog with MDVD
Adult dogs Small breeds Heart murmur-may be asymptomatic Cough Breathing changes Exercise intolerance May progress to right-sided congestive heart failure
Why is a chronic cough often the first clinical sign of MDVD?
Marked left atrial enlargement -> compression of the caudal mainstem bronchi `
How does pulmonary oedema occur with MDVD?
The increased filling pressures within the left atrium lead to backpressure in the pulmonary vasculature -> increased hydrostatic pressure and pulmonary oedema
When doing a physical exam on a dog with MDVD, what would you hear when auscultating the lungs?
Increased respiratory sounds
Crackles
Tachypnoea/dyspnoea
(Pulmonary oedema)
Give some signs of right-sided congestive heart failure
Hepatojugular reflex (squeeze abdomen at liver, does jugular pop out?)
Jugular distension
Abdominal effusion
Hepatomegaly
Where is the point of maximal intensity of a heart murmur in a dog with MDVD?
Over left apex (mitral regurgitation)
What 3 arrhythmias may be seen with MDVD?
Supraventricular premature complexes
Atrial fibrillation
Ventricular premature complexes
On an ECG, what does a prolonged P wave represent?
Left atrial enlargement
On an ECG, what does a tall R wave represent?
Left ventricular enlargement
On an ECG, what does a prolonged QRS represent?
Conduction disturbance
What value should a dog’s vertebral heart scale be?
> 10.5
What might you see on a radiograph in a dog with MDVD?
Cardiomegaly (check vertebral heart scale)
Left atrial enlargement
Lung patterns
-Prominent lobar vessels -> early pulmonary congestion
-Interstitial lung pattern -> early pulmonary oedema
-Alveolar pattern -> pulmonary oedema
What is the best diagnostic method for confirming MDVD?
Echocardiography
What would you see on an echocardiography of a dog with MDVD?
Thickened atrioventricular leaflets (may see ruptured chordae tendinae)
Enlarged left atrium (LA>LV)
Dilated, rounded left ventricle
Hyperdynamic systolic function (reduced afterload, increased preload)
Mitral regurgitation
Pulmonary hypertension
What other pathology may dogs with CHF have?
Pre-renal azotaemia
What is NT-proBNP?
Marker for heart failure
Released by atrial/ventricular stretch
What is Troponin I?
Marker of myocardial cell damage (part of sarcomere of myocyte)
Give a good treatment plan for CHF
Furosemide (diuretic, essential in CHF)
Spironolactone (weak diuretic, anti-remodelling effects)
ACE-inhibitors (vasodilators, reduce afterload)
Pimobendan (positive inotrope and vasodilator, addreses pulmonary hypertension)
Which drugs could you give to treat a supraventricular arrhythmia associated with MDVD?
-Diltiazem (calcium channel blocker)
-Digoxin
What is the estimated life span of a dog once is develops CHF?
12 months
What is endocarditis?
Infection of one or more endocardial valves
Give some infectious agents that cause endocarditis
Streptococcus spp Staphylococcus spp E.coli Pseudomonas Bartonella spp etc
Endocarditis is more likely to occur on which valves?
Aortic or mitral
What would you suspect in a case of pyrexia of unknown origin and a new heart murmur?
Endocarditis
What conditions are required for endocarditis to occur?
Bacteraemia (eg infections, IV catheter, surgery)
Damaged endothelium (turbulence, high velocities)
Bacteria must be able to adhere and evade host defences
Hypercoagulable states
Describe the pathology of endocarditis
Vegetations on endocardial surface of valve leaflets (ie atrial/ventricular surfaces)
Affected valves usually deformed; can be perforated, haemorrhagic, calcified if mature
Microscopic findings:
-Platelets, WBCs, RBCs, bacteria, fibrin
-Fibrous tissue, calcification in mature lesions
Septic/sterile arterial embolisation (kidney, heart, lung, brain)
Describe the pathophysiology of endcarditis
Persistent/intermittent bacteraemia -> systemic inflammatory response
Thromboembolic events (septic)
-Organ infarction
-Abscess formation
-Neurological signs
-Shifting lameness
Stimulation of humoral/cellular Immune system: Immune complex, antinuclear antibodies
-Clotting abnormalities -> DIC
-Proteinuria -> glomerulonephritis
-Polyarthritis, glomerulonephritis, myocarditis
Valvular regurgitation (mitral/aortic) leading to volume overload. Also stenosis leading to pressure overload of left ventricle.
-Increased myocardial workload
-Congestive heart failure
How would you diagnose endocarditis?
Blood culture
- At least 3 puncture sites, 10ml per sample
- Prior to antibiosis
Echocardiography
- Presence of valvular vegetations
- Regurgitation from affected valve
ECG
-May show tachycardia or arrhythmias
What clinical pathology would you see with endocarditis?
Usually neutrophilia +/- left shift
Commonly thrombocytopenia -> DIC?
Abnormalities associated with thromboembolic disease
How could you diagnose endocarditis using modified Duke’s criteria?
Must have 2 major criteria/ 5 minor/ 1 major and 3 minor criteria
Give the major criteria of the modified Duke’s criteria, used for diagnosing endocarditis
Positive echocargiogram
New valvular insufficiency
Positive blood culture
Give the minor criteria of the modified Duke’s criteria, used for diagnosing endocarditis
Fever Medium/large breed Subaortic stenosis Thromboembolic disease Immune-mediated disease Positive blood culture not meeting major criteria Bartonella serology ≥1:1024
How do you treat endocarditis?
Bactericidal antibiotics based on culture and sensitivity (fluoroquinalone and potentiated amoxicilin + metronidazole whilst awaiting culture)
Minimum 6 weeks
Anti-coagulation
Monitoring of acute-phase proteins
What is the prognosis like for endocarditis?
Guarded-poor
- Recurrence
- Complications
- Irreversible valve damage -> volume overload and congestive heart failure
What is the msot common primary cardiomyopathy in dogs?
Dilated cardiomyopathy
What is ARVC?
Which breed is more affected?
Arrhythmic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
Boxers
Give some primary cardiomyopathies in dogs
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Arrhythmic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Atrial cardiomyopathy
Which dog breeds are more prone to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Terrier breeds, pointers, golden retriever
Which dog breeds are more prone to atrial cardiomyopathy?
Labrador, english springer spaniel
How would you recognise atrial standstill on an ECG?
No p waves
What can cause primary myocarditis?
Viruses (eg Parvo) and autoimmune response
What can cause secondary myocarditis?
Inflammation, specific pathogens (eg distemper virus, Toxoplasma, Leptospira spp. and Leishmania)
What happens to the heart with dilated cardiomyopathy?
- Impaired systolic function (ie reduced contractility; cell death and fatty/fibrous replacement)
- Dilated cardiac chambers
What causes dilated cardiomyopathy?
Idiopathic
What kind of dogs are affected by dilated cardiomyopathy?
- Adult onset
- Medium-large breeds (eg Doberman)
What can happen as a result of dilated cardiomyopathy?
- CHF
- Sudden death
Left ventricular hypertrophy in dogs is most likely to occur secondary to which conditions?
- Aortic stenosis
- Systemic hypertension
- Infiltrative disease
Why may atrial cardiomyopathy ultimately result in a pacemaker?
-Atrial wall thinning -> atrial standstill