Surgical palliation of severe tricuspid valve stenosis in a dog by use of Fontan's procedure.
OBJECTIVE
To describe surgical treatment of tricuspid valve stenosis using the Fontan procedure in a young dog.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
One client-owned dog


RESULTS
A six month old female Labrador retriever was diagnosed with tricuspid obstruction. The dog had a displaced tricuspid valve and small right ventricle and had progressed to right-sided (backward) cardiac failure. A Fontan procedure (connection of the right atrium to the pulmonary artery with a prosthetic conduit) was performed. Within three days the right atrial pressure had dropped from a preoperative value of 33 mm Hg to 8 mm Hg and the ascites was significantly reduced. The dog died suddenly two months after surgery. Postmortem examination of the heart showed a greatly enlarged right atrium and hypoplastic right ventricle. The tricuspid valve leaflets were fused and displaced ventrally leaving an opening measuring 3x5 mm between the chambers. The conduit was intact with no evidence of leakage or thrombosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Palliation of tricuspid stenosis using the Fontan procedure can be performed in dogs. Sudden death may occur and is most likely because of cardiac arrythmias.
Robertson
S A
SA
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824-1314, USA.
Eyster
G
G
Perry
R
R
Patterson
V
V
D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D018729:Fontan Procedure / Q000662:veterinary*; D014264:Tricuspid Valve Stenosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*