title: Congenital cardiac malformation with three-chambered right atrium and a persistent left cranial vena cava in a dog.
abstract: This report describes an unusual congenital abnormality in a dog in which multiple distinct membranes were observed within the right atrium, creating obstruction to venous return from both the cranial vena cava and the caudal vena cava. A persistent left cranial vena cava was also identified. In addition to a membrane in the typical location for cor triatriatum dexter, the dog also had a perforated membrane separating the main right atrial body and tricuspid valve from a more cranial right atrial chamber and the right cranial vena cava. Balloon dilation was performed successfully to alleviate the obstruction to systemic venous return created by the two membranes. Due to the unusual anatomic features, angiography plus echocardiography was useful to completely characterize the congenital abnormality prior to intervention.
authors: Department of Clinical Science, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA.
authors: Vicky K
authors: VK
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Clinical Science, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA.
authors: Lindsay
authors: L
authors: Nussbaum
authors: Department of Clinical Science, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA. Electronic address: john.rush@tufts.edu.
authors: John E
authors: JE
authors: Rush
authors: Department of Clinical Science, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA.
authors: Suzanne M
authors: SM
authors: Cunningham
authors: InTown Veterinary Group, Natick, MA 01760, USA.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: MacGregor
authors: Department of Clinical Science, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA.
authors: Kristen N
authors: KN
authors: Antoon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Balloon dilation; Congenital heart disease; Cor triatriatum dexter; Right-sided heart failure