title: A retrospective study of clinical findings, treatment and outcome in 143 dogs with pericardial effusion.
abstract: A retrospective study of 143 dogs with pericardial effusion is presented, including a statistical analysis of survival time. Cases were classified into those in which a mass was seen on echocardiography (echo-positive) and those in which no mass could be identified (echo-negative). Forty-four dogs were echo-positive and 99 were echo-negative. The median survival time (MST) was 1068 days for echo-negative dogs and 26 days for echo-positive dogs. Dogs with a history of collapse were more likely to present with a mass on echocardiography. Those presenting with collapse had an MST of 30 days compared with 605 days for those without collapse. Echo-negative dogs tended to present with ascites and generally had a larger volume of pericardial effusion. The median survival for dogs presenting with ascites was 605 days compared with 45 days for those without ascites. Among echo-negative dogs, 64 per cent had a relapse of their effusion. Subtotal pericardiectomy was performed in 31 echo-negative dogs. The procedure had a perioperative mortality of 13 per cent but provided a favourable long-term prognosis. Dogs undergoing pericardiectomy had a median survival of 1218 days compared with 532 days for those not undergoing surgery.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Cardiorespiratory Centre, 43 Waverley Road, Kenilworth, Warwickshire.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stafford Johnson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Binns
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Day
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001201:Ascites / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D010492:Pericardiectomy / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary; D020519:Pericardiocentesis / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome