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Constrictive pericarditis in a mare: attempted treatment by partial pericardiectomy
J Hardy1, J T Robertson, S M Reed
1Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus.
Equine Veterinary Journal
|March 1, 1992
Summary
Constrictive pericarditis in horses can cause right congestive heart failure. Partial pericardiectomy may be a viable treatment for selected cases of equine constrictive pericarditis, particularly when the disease is limited to the pericardium.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Cardiology
- Equine Medicine
- Cardiac Surgery
Background:
- Chronic constrictive pericarditis is a rare condition in horses.
- Diagnosis relies on clinical signs like right congestive heart failure and specific pressure curve abnormalities.
- Severe epicardial involvement can complicate treatment outcomes.
Observation:
- A 6-year-old Thoroughbred mare presented with clinical signs of right congestive heart failure.
- Diagnostic findings included a hyperechoic pericardium without effusion and characteristic right ventricular pressure curves.
- The mare underwent partial pericardiectomy via right lateral thoracotomy.
Findings:
- Recurrence of constrictive pathology was observed 6 weeks post-surgery due to severe epicardial involvement.
- Partial pericardiectomy demonstrated potential as a therapeutic option in this equine case.
- Equilibration of diastolic pressures across all cardiac chambers was noted, indicative of constriction.
Implications:
- Partial pericardiectomy may be a beneficial treatment for equine constrictive pericarditis when the disease is confined to the pericardium.
- This case highlights the importance of assessing epicardial involvement for surgical success in horses.
- Further research into surgical techniques and case selection is warranted for managing constrictive pericarditis in horses.