{"title":"Clinical utility of pharmacological defibrillation using cardioplegic solution during canine mitral valve repair","authors":"K. Kurogochi , Y. Nii , A. Chen , M. Uechi","doi":"10.1016/j.jvc.2025.07.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jvc.2025.07.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction/Objectives</h3><div>Reperfusion ventricular fibrillation (VF) commonly occurs during open-heart surgery in dogs and humans. Pharmacological defibrillation using cardioplegia is a potential option; however, the standard technique remains unclear in dogs. We examined the clinical utility of pharmacological defibrillation in canine mitral valve repair.</div></div><div><h3>Animals, Materials, and Methods</h3><div>We retrospectively investigated 402 client-owned dogs that underwent mitral valve repair between January and December 2021.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Ventricular fibrillation after cross-clamp release occurred in 70 of 397 cases (17.6%). Pharmacological defibrillation was attempted in 69 patients by administering 40 mEq/L potassium crystalloid cardioplegia via an aortic root catheter. If defibrillation was not achieved or VF recurred, the administration was repeated identically. In all cases, VF resolved after pharmacological defibrillation alone, without electrical defibrillation. Defibrillation was achieved with a single dose in 45 cases (median, 3.90 mL/kg; interquartile range [IQR], 2.95–4.95]), while multiple doses (range: 2–5) were necessary for 24 cases (median initial dose, 3.05 mL/kg [IQR, 2.07–4.14]). Predictors of reperfusion VF included body temperature at cross-clamp release (risk ratio, 0.82 per 1.0 °C) and pre-operative left ventricular internal dimension at end-diastole normalized to body weight (risk ratio, 1.11 per 0.1 unit).</div></div><div><h3>Study Limitations</h3><div>The retrospective nature of the study led to variability in personnel, absence of a control group, and limited data availability.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Reperfusion VF occurred in 17.6% of the canine mitral valve repair cases. Pharmacological defibrillation is a feasible option in such cases. Approximately 4.0 mL/kg of cardioplegia was effective for a single dose, whereas lower doses required multiple administrations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48788,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Cardiology","volume":"62 ","pages":"Pages 35-44"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144889326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Complete transposition of the great arteries with a patent ductus arteriosus, atrial septal defect, and juxta-arterial ventricular septal defect in a cat","authors":"J.C. Liu, J. Allen, K. Phipps, K. Barrett","doi":"10.1016/j.jvc.2025.07.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jvc.2025.07.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>An 11-week-old male intact Siamese cat was presented for evaluation of a grade V/VI parasternal systolic murmur. Echocardiography revealed multiple congenital cardiac abnormalities, including parallel orientation of the aorta and main pulmonary artery, a patent ductus arteriosus, and a juxta-arterial ventricular septal defect. Cardiac remodeling secondary to these congenital defects was also noted. The patient was clinically stable at the time of presentation, but the owner ultimately elected for humane euthanasia before the onset of cardiac decompensation. Postmortem necropsy was performed to confirm the congenital deformities identified on echocardiography. An ostium secundum atrial septal defect that was not originally detected on echocardiography was discovered at this time. The cat was diagnosed with a complete transposition of the great arteries and concurrent congenital defects that allowed for mixing of the pulmonary and systemic circulatory systems. This case report describes a congenital defect that is infrequently reported in veterinary medicine, as well as the utility of antemortem echocardiography and gross necropsy findings to characterize this deformity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48788,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Cardiology","volume":"62 ","pages":"Pages 25-30"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144878635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cardiac lymphoma causing severe pulmonary stenosis in a cat","authors":"A. Stout, F. Constantino-Casas, C. Partington","doi":"10.1016/j.jvc.2025.07.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jvc.2025.07.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A nine-year-old, domestic shorthair cat was referred for investigation of a suspected renal mass, polyuria, polydipsia, hyporexia and weight loss of one month’s duration; no respiratory signs were reported. On presentation, the cat had marked respiratory effort. Thoracic auscultation revealed reduced heart and lung sounds bilaterally. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a large pleural effusion and an extensive, homogenous mass within the right ventricular outflow tract, invading the pulmonary valve and causing severe infundibular and valvular pulmonary stenosis and right atrial and ventricular dilatation. The mass extended to, and infiltrated, the right ventricular free wall. Postmortem examination confirmed the presence of a mass associated with the pulmonary valve extending into the right ventricle and infiltrating the right ventricular and right atrial myocardium, resulting in severe infundibular and valvular pulmonary stenosis. Histopathology showed disseminated intermediate to large cell lymphoma affecting the kidney, myocardium, pulmonary valve, pancreas, diaphragm and adrenal glands.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48788,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Cardiology","volume":"61 ","pages":"Pages 56-61"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144809936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
F.D. Favier , G.C.M. Grinwis , A.H. Hulsman , M. den Toom , F.G. van Steenbeek , G. Santarelli
{"title":"Third-degree atrioventricular block associated with suspected arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy in a three-year-old Cocker Spaniel","authors":"F.D. Favier , G.C.M. Grinwis , A.H. Hulsman , M. den Toom , F.G. van Steenbeek , G. Santarelli","doi":"10.1016/j.jvc.2025.06.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jvc.2025.06.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A three-year-old spayed female English Cocker spaniel was presented with diarrhea, abdominal distension, and exercise intolerance. On physical examination, bradycardia, abdominal distension with positive undulation, and a soft systolic right-sided heart murmur were detected. Electrocardiography showed a third-degree atrioventricular block with monomorphic idioventricular rhythm and premature ventricular ectopic beats. On echocardiography, an extremely thin right ventricular wall, severe right ventricular and atrial dilation, and severely depressed right ventricular systolic function were observed, and ascites was confirmed. Despite pacemaker implantation and standard treatment for congestive heart failure, the dog's condition deteriorated quickly, leading to euthanasia. Pathological examination showed a thin right ventricular free wall with fibrosis and largely absent cardiomyocytes, along with myocardial infiltration of adipocytes and lymphocytes. An arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy complicated with a third-degree atrioventricular block was considered the most likely diagnosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48788,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Cardiology","volume":"61 ","pages":"Pages 51-55"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144724464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Mitral annular disjunction prevalence in 403 dogs referred for cardiac assessment (the MAD dog study).","authors":"N Pereira, M Wyler","doi":"10.1016/j.jvc.2025.06.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvc.2025.06.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction/objectives: </strong>Mitral annular disjunction (MAD) is common in humans and is associated with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), mitral valve prolapse, and arrhythmias. It is poorly described in dogs, and its prevalence is unknown. The objective of this study is to establish the prevalence of MAD in a population of dogs referred for cardiac examination.</p><p><strong>Animals, methods and materials: </strong>A total of 415 dogs were screened. Over one year, dogs referred for cardiac assessment were prospectively enrolled. Age, breed, body weight, electrocardiography, and echocardiography were recorded. Dogs with systolic loss of continuity between the basal segment of the left ventricular posterior wall and the mitral valve (in right parasternal long-axis echocardiography) were considered to suffer from MAD.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four hundred three dogs were included in the study. Seven dogs exhibited MAD. All MAD dogs had MMVD. No normal dogs exhibited MAD. The overall prevalence of MAD was 1.7%. The prevalence of MAD in dogs with MMVD was 2.5%. The prevalence of MAD in dogs with mitral valve prolapse was also 2.5%. No MAD dogs exhibited arrhythmias. The presence of MAD was associated with lower body weight.</p><p><strong>Study limitations: </strong>Single-operator bias and evolving diagnostic criteria for MAD in people complicate the interpretation of study results.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Mitral annular disjunction is uncommon in dogs referred for cardiac evaluation and could only be identified in dogs suffering from MMVD. No arrhythmias were found in MAD dogs.</p>","PeriodicalId":48788,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Cardiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144668733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Echocardiographic findings of a valvular aortic cyst in a dog","authors":"I. Badric, N. Schreiber, M. Baron Toaldo","doi":"10.1016/j.jvc.2025.06.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jvc.2025.06.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A 12-year-old, 19.8-kg, female neutered Nova Scotia Duck Tolling retriever was referred for investigation of a heart murmur. The dog was asymptomatic at the time of examination. On cardiac auscultation, a soft (2/6) diastolic heart murmur, louder at the left cardiac base, was present. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography revealed a cyst-like structure attached to the aortic valve leaflets. Doppler examination showed that the cyst was fluid-filled and connected to the aortic and ventricular lumen. A moderate aortic valve insufficiency was also present. The left heart was mildly dilated. An echocardiography was repeated eight months later, and no relevant progression of the lesion was noted. The dog remained asymptomatic. An aortic cyst is an unusual congenital or acquired condition described in humans, but never reported previously in a dog.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48788,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Cardiology","volume":"61 ","pages":"Pages 36-40"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144569984","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Shimano , K. Yamamoto , Y. Goto-Koshino , H. Tomiyasu , T. Mizuno
{"title":"Measurement and estimation of normal mitral annular size using computed tomography in 248 small-breed dogs","authors":"S. Shimano , K. Yamamoto , Y. Goto-Koshino , H. Tomiyasu , T. Mizuno","doi":"10.1016/j.jvc.2025.06.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jvc.2025.06.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction/Objectives</h3><div>Surgical mitral valve repair is gaining recognition as an essential treatment option for dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease despite the lack of established criteria for suture annuloplasty. Therefore, measuring normal mitral annular size in small-breed dogs without heart abnormalities may help determine the appropriate target annular size.</div></div><div><h3>Animals, Materials and Methods</h3><div>Dogs weighing <10 kg without evidence of heart disease that underwent three-phase computed tomography (CT) under anesthesia were retrospectively collected. Mitral annular measurements including trigone-to-trigone distance (TT) and the fourth thoracic vertebral body length (T4) were measured using multiplanar reformatting. The correlations between mitral annular measurements and body size, including body weight (BW) and T4, were examined. The regression equations for estimating annular circumference (AC) were then calculated.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The study population comprised 248 dogs weighing 1.2–9.9 kg. Mean values (±standard deviation) of TT and AC were 1.56 (±0.27) and 5.81 (±0.95) cm, respectively. All annular measurements presented a correlation coefficient >0.7 with both BW and T4. Regression equations using BW, T4, and TT explained the AC in our population with sufficient coefficients of determination, with values of 0.68, 0.65, and 0.80, respectively.</div></div><div><h3>Study Limitations</h3><div>Synchronous electrocardiogram recordings were not available in this study, and the use of electrocardiogram-gated CT may provide a more accurate assessment.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Mitral annular size was strongly correlated with BW and T4 in small-breed dogs. A normal AC can be estimated through regression equations using BW, T4, or TT. The TT calculated using CT images is the most valuable index for accurate estimation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48788,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Cardiology","volume":"61 ","pages":"Pages 41-50"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144634382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
L. Moretto , M. Dennler , N. Schreiber , M. Baron Toaldo
{"title":"Post-traumatic interventricular septal hematoma in a dog","authors":"L. Moretto , M. Dennler , N. Schreiber , M. Baron Toaldo","doi":"10.1016/j.jvc.2025.06.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jvc.2025.06.003","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A six-year-old, neutered male, Airedale terrier with craniocerebral injury and shock after being hit by a car developed post-traumatic arrhythmia, which persisted after hemodynamic and neurological stabilization. Cardiac troponin I was markedly elevated. Transthoracic echocardiography and computed tomography angiography revealed an interventricular septal lesion, compatible with a myocardial splitting and intramural hematoma formation. The cardiac lesion resolved almost completely during the following weeks. About one year after initial presentation, the dog was referred with signs of right-sided congestive heart failure, thin and inhomogeneous interventricular septum, dilated cardiac chambers, and pulmonary artery, compatible with pulmonary hypertension, likely secondary to the left heart disease. Eventually the dog was euthanized due to poor response to medical therapy, approximately one year after his first decompensation. Interventricular septal hematomas are rare events in people, usually associated with cardiac surgery, trauma, or acute myocardial ischemia. This is the first dog described with a post-traumatic septal hematoma that has been extensively documented by means of echocardiography and cross-sectional imaging.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48788,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Cardiology","volume":"61 ","pages":"Pages 29-35"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144548615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
V.T. Silvia , T.C. DeFrancesco , K.R. Love , S.P. Tou , B.W. Keene
{"title":"Effect of trazodone on heart rate, heart rate variability, and QT-intervals in dogs","authors":"V.T. Silvia , T.C. DeFrancesco , K.R. Love , S.P. Tou , B.W. Keene","doi":"10.1016/j.jvc.2025.06.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jvc.2025.06.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction/Objectives</h3><div>To determine the effect of trazodone and placebo on heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and QT intervals (QTi) in dogs after oral administration of trazodone or placebo.</div></div><div><h3>Animals, Materials and Methods</h3><div>Twenty healthy adult client-owned dogs were included in the study. Dogs were randomized in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Dogs received trazodone (6 mg/kg q 8 h) or placebo for 24 h, during which a 24-h ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) (Holter) was recorded. Diagnostic ECGs and clinician-assessed behavior scores were obtained before and after the 24-h study period. Owners also scored the dog's behavior changes during each of the 24-h study periods. Following a minimum one-week washout period, dogs received the alternate study drug, and all procedures were repeated. Linear and mixed models were used for statistical analyses.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Dogs receiving trazodone had higher average HRs (P=0.035), higher minimum HRs (P<0.001), and reduced HRV parameters (P<0.001) on the Holter recordings. Electrocardiogram-derived QTi was not different between groups. Dogs receiving trazodone appeared calmer based on owner assessments (P<0.001) and behavior scores (P=0.006).</div></div><div><h3>Study Limitations</h3><div>Blood pressure and trazodone blood levels were not measured, making it impossible to determine the effect of these variables on the HR and ECG findings.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Trazodone increased HR and decreased HRV. Possible explanations include a previously described anticholinergic effect or a possible decrease in blood pressure causing a reflex response. No demonstrable effect on QTi was identified in this cohort of healthy dogs using standard trazodone dosing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48788,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Cardiology","volume":"61 ","pages":"Pages 20-28"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144548614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Maffei , M. Perego , D. Cavallini , R. Santilli
{"title":"Atrial depolarization electrocardiographic features during orthodromic atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia mediated by right-sided accessory pathway in the dog","authors":"A. Maffei , M. Perego , D. Cavallini , R. Santilli","doi":"10.1016/j.jvc.2025.06.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jvc.2025.06.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction/Objectives</h3><div>Electrocardiographic features of atrial depolarization (AD) during orthodromic atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia (OAVRT) have been widely studied to localize accessory pathways (APs) in humans. The aim of this study was to determine whether AD characteristics might also be used to determine AP anatomical sites in dogs.</div></div><div><h3>Animals, Materials and Methods</h3><div>Clinical records for 83 dogs that underwent electrophysiologic studies for AP ablation were retrospectively analyzed. Accessory pathways were classified into three groups according to localization: right anterior (RA, 13.3%), right postero-septal (RPS, 36.1%), and right posterior (RP, 50.6%). Electrocardiographic characteristics of AD (duration, amplitude, and axis) and OAVRT (AD-AD, peak of R wave - atrial depolarization (R-AD)/atrial depolarization - peak of R wave (AD-R), peak to peak of R wave (RR) interval, and QT duration) were analyzed in all 12 leads.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Mean AD duration in RA, RPS, and RP was 48.0 ± 10.3 ms, 46.1 ± 10.6 ms, and 47.1 ± 10.2 ms, respectively, and the mean amplitude was −0.25 ± 0.12 mV, −0.28 ± 0.20 mV, and −0.28 ± 0.18 mV, respectively. The median electrical axis on the frontal plane was −90.0° (interquartile range [IQR]: 26.5° in RA, 9.4° in RPS, and 13.9° in RP). The median AD-R, mean R-AD intervals, and mean R-AD/AD-R were 140.0 ms (IQR: 34.5 ms), 72.0 ± 19.3 ms, and 0.50 ± 0.14 in RA; 138.0 ms (IQR: 33.0 ms), 76.5 ± 13.6 ms, and 0.55 ± 0.15 in RPS; and 121.0 ms (IQR: 20.0 ms), 74.1 ± 11.7 ms, and 0.59 ± 0.15 in RP. No others statistically significant differences in electrocardiographic parameters were found.</div></div><div><h3>Study Limitations</h3><div>Identification of ADs in some dogs was not straightforward, and thoracic conformation differences may have affected AD measurements.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Electrocardiographic features of AD during OAVRT are not useful for localizing right-sided APs in dogs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48788,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Veterinary Cardiology","volume":"61 ","pages":"Pages 10-19"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144480567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}