title: Transthoracic echocardiographically-guided interventional cardiac procedures in the dog.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Interventional cardiac procedures are traditionally performed using fluoroscopy, or, more recently, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Neither modality is widely available to practicing cardiologists worldwide. We examined whether balloon valvuloplasty of pulmonic stenosis (PS) and transarterial occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in dogs could be performed safely with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective consecutive case series of 26 client-owned dogs with PS (n = 10) and PDA (n = 16).
  
  
  METHODS
  The cardiovascular procedures were performed using TTE. Each dog was positioned on a standard echocardiography table in right lateral recumbency (dogs with PS) or left lateral recumbency (dogs with PDA). Guide wires, balloon catheters, Amplatz(®) Canine Ductal Occluder (ACDO) delivery sheaths, and ACDO were imaged by standard echocardiographic views optimized to allow visualization of the defects and devices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Procedures were performed successfully without major complications in 20 dogs. In 2 dogs (German shepherds) with Type III PDA, ACDO placement was unsuccessful; 2 other German Shepherds were excluded from the procedure because their ductal diameters, measured echocardiographically, exceeded the limits of the maximal ACDO size. Two dogs weighing ≤3.5 kg had suboptimal echocardiographic visualization of the PDA and were considered too small for safe ACDO deployment. All intravascular devices at the level of the heart and great vessels appeared hyperechoic on TTE image and could be clearly monitored and guided in real-time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have demonstrated that TTE monitoring can guide each step of pulmonic balloon valvuloplasty and PDA occlusion without fluoroscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Caivano
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Birettoni
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fruganti
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rishniw
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Knafelz
authors.forename: N Sydney
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Moïse
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Porciello
mesh_terms: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D063126:Balloon Valvuloplasty / Q000662:veterinary*; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005665:Furosemide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D001552:Benzazepines; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D011724:Pyridazines; C041648:pimobendan; D005665:Furosemide; C044946:benazepril