title: Patent ductus arteriosus in an adult cat with pulmonary hypertension and right-sided congestive heart failure: hemodynamic evaluation and clinical outcome following ductal closure.
abstract: Right-sided congestive heart failure (CHF) developed secondary to severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) in an 8-year-old cat with a left-to-right shunting patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Vascular reactivity was tested prior to shunt ligation by treatment with oxygen and sildenafil. This treatment was associated with a significant decrease in pulmonary artery pressure as assessed by echocardiography. Subsequently surgical shunt ligation was planned. During thoracotomy, digital occlusion of the PDA was performed for 10 min with simultaneous catheter measurement of right ventricular pressure, which did not increase. Permanent shunt ligation resulted in a complete and sustained clinical recovery. A lung biopsy sample obtained during thoracotomy demonstrated histopathological arterial changes typical of PH. Cats can develop clinically severe PH and right-sided CHF secondary to a left-to-right PDA even at an advanced age. Assuming there is evidence of pulmonary reactivity, PDA occlusion might be tolerated and can potentially produce long-term clinical benefits.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: jmatos@vetclinics.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Novo-Matos
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgery, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hurter
authors.affiliation: Division of Anesthesiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rima
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bektas
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grest
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Glaus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002415:Cats; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000662:veterinary
keywords: Congenital; Echocardiography; Feline; Histopathology; Sildenafil