title: Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy for the management of malignant pericardial effusion in two dogs.
abstract: Two dogs with signs of right-sided congestive cardiac failure, due to recurrent pericardial effusion secondary to the presence of intrapericardial neoplasia, were treated by percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy. The first patient was euthanased one month after the procedure while the second patient developed ascites as a result of obstruction of the caudal vena cava by the growing tumour and was euthanased 14 weeks after the procedure. In neither case was there a recurrence of a significant volume of the effusion. Percutaneous balloon pericardiotomy represents an effective means of relieving recurrent malignant pericardial effusion, without resorting to thoracotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cobb
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boswood
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: McEvoy
mesh_terms: D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D010492:Pericardiectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome