title: Signalment, clinical features, echocardiographic findings, and outcome of dogs and cats with ventricular septal defects: 109 cases (1992-2013).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the signalment, clinical features, echocardiographic findings, and outcome of dogs and cats with ventricular septal defects (VSDs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  56 dogs and 53 cats with VSDs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of dogs and cats with VSDs diagnosed by means of conventional and Doppler echocardiography were reviewed. Signalment, clinical status, echocardiographic findings, and outcome data were recorded. Variables of interest were analyzed for the study population and subgroups according to species and clinical status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VSDs were isolated (ie, solitary defects) in 53 of 109 (48.6%) patients. Most (82/109 [75.2%]) VSDs were membranous or perimembranous. Terriers and French Bulldogs were commonly represented canine breeds. Most isolated VSDs were subclinical (43/53 [81%]) and had a pulmonary-to-systemic flow ratio < 1. 5 (24/32 [75%]). The VSD diameter and VSD-to-aortic diameter ratio were significantly correlated with pulmonary-to-systemic flow ratio in dogs (r = 0.529 and r = 0.689, respectively) and in cats (r = 0.713 and r = 0.829, respectively). One dog underwent open surgical repair for an isolated VSD and was excluded from survival analysis. Of the remaining animals with isolated VSDs for which data were available (37/52 [71%]), no subclinically affected animals developed signs after initial diagnosis, and median age at death from all causes was 12 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most dogs and cats with isolated VSDs had a long survival time; few had clinical signs at diagnosis, and none with follow-up developed clinical signs after diagnosis.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bomassi
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Misbach
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tissier
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gouni
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trehiou-Sechi
authors.forename: Amandine M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.forename: Aude
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Desmyter
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Damoiseaux
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Pouchelon
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chetboul
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality*; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality*; D004285:Dogs; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis