title: Atrioventricular septal defects: natural history, echocardiographic, electrocardiographic, and radiographic findings in 26 cats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate signalment, echocardiographic, electrocardiographic, and radiographic findings as well as natural history in a group of cats with atrioventricular septal defects (AVSD).
  
  
  METHODS
  26 client owned cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records were reviewed retrospectively for signalment, morphologic type of AVSD, presence of concurrent congenital heart disease (ConcCHD), diagnostic findings, and natural history.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen cats had an isolated AVSD; 13/17 had a partial and 4/17 had a complete AVSD. Double outlet right atrium (DORA) was diagnosed in 4/17 cats. Of those with a partial AVSD, 7/13 had an atrial communication while 6/13 had a ventricular communication. Congestive heart failure (CHF) developed in 5/17 cats; all 3 cats diagnosed with a DORA not lost to follow-up developed pulmonary edema. Sudden death was documented in 4/17 (23.5%). The 5 year survival was 53.0% (9/17). Concurrent congenital heart disease was identified in 9/26 cats with 7/9 having a conotruncal abnormality. Electrocardiography was performed in 14 cats with 11/14 diagnosed with a conduction disturbance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall the echocardiographic and electrocardiographic findings with AVSD are similar to that seen in humans. Cats may have a higher prevalence than humans of partial AVSD with ventricular communication only as well as a higher prevalence of DORA. Cats with an AVSD have an overall guarded prognosis although some can live for a protracted time.
authors.affiliation: Oradell Animal Hospital, 580 Winters Ave., Paramus, NJ 07652, USA. Electronic address: dpsdvm@optonline.net.
authors.forename: Donald P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Schrope
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002415:Cats; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006343:Heart Septal Defects / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Atrioventricular canal defect; Double outlet right atrium; Endocardial cushion defect; Feline; Primum atrial septal defect