Open heart closure of an atrial septal defect by use of an atrial septal occluder in a dog.
METHODS
A 3-year-old sexually intact male Standard Poodle was admitted to the veterinary teaching hospital for transcatheter closure of a large atrial septal defect (ASD).


RESULTS
The dog had exercise intolerance and was thin. Findings on physical examination were within normal limits with the exception of a left base systolic heart murmur (grade 5/6). The dog was not receiving any medications. Echocardiography and thoracic radiography confirmed the diagnosis of ASD and revealed compensatory changes consistent with a large left to right shunting ASD. Results of serum biochemical analysis and CBC were within reference range limits.


RESULTS
Transcatheter ASD closure with an atrial septal occluder (ASO) was performed and failed. An open heart surgical approach under cardiopulmonary bypass was declined by the dog's owners. The dog underwent a novel hybrid approach involving active device fixation under temporary inflow occlusion after transatrial device deployment. The dog recovered with some manageable postoperative complications. As of the last follow-up examination, the dog had 10 months of event-free survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Transcatheter closure by use of an ASO and open heart patch repair with cardiopulmonary bypass to surgically treat dogs with ASD has been reported. Transcatheter closure is not possible in dogs with large ASD. The novel hybrid procedure reported herein represented a viable alternative to euthanasia.
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4474, USA. sgordon@cvm.tamu.edu
Sonya G
SG
Gordon
David A
DA
Nelson
Sarah E
SE
Achen
Matthew M
MM
Miller
Risa M
RM
Roland
Ashley B
AB
Saunders
Lori T
LT
Drourr
D000818:Animals; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000662:veterinary*; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000662:veterinary*