title: Cardiac malposition (ectopia cordis) in a cat.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe a case of cardiac malposition in a cat, and the successful management of the anomaly.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 2-year-old male neutered male British Shorthair cat weighing 7.58 kg was referred for bicavitary effusion. Ultrasonography and echocardiography demonstrated displacement of the heart into the abdomen through a diaphragmatic defect. Clinical signs of right-sided congestive heart failure were attributed to mechanical restriction of diastolic function by a constrictive segment of fibrous pericardium and to impaired venous return due to a kink in the caudal vena cava. Surgical repositioning of the heart into the thoracic cavity and a subtotal pericardectomy were performed, and the diaphragmatic defect was repaired. The patient recovered well postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diagnosis and management of cardiac malposition has not been previously described in cats. With timely diagnosis and surgical intervention, a favorable outcome is possible.
authors.affiliation: Canada West Veterinary Specialists, 1988 Kootenay Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5M 4Y3, Canada.
authors.forename: Melinda M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.affiliation: Canada West Veterinary Specialists, 1988 Kootenay Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5M 4Y3, Canada.
authors.forename: Alan B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Kuzma
authors.affiliation: Canada West Veterinary Specialists, 1988 Kootenay Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5M 4Y3, Canada.
authors.forename: Marco L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Margiocco
authors.affiliation: Canada West Veterinary Specialists, 1988 Kootenay Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5M 4Y3, Canada.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Canada West Veterinary Specialists, 1988 Kootenay Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5M 4Y3, Canada.
authors.forename: Trevor B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Enberg
authors.affiliation: Canada West Veterinary Specialists, 1988 Kootenay Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5M 4Y3, Canada.
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Head
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002415:Cats; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary*; D054083:Ectopia Cordis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D010492:Pericardiectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D010496:Pericardium
keywords: cardiac defect; ectopia cordis; right-sided heart failure