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Right atriotomy using total venous inflow occlusion for removal of heartworms in a cat
Tomoya Iizuka1, Katsuichiro Hoshi, Yuzuru Ishida
1Sakata Animal Hospital, Japan. yacchi_harubin@yahoo.co.jp
Insights
A thirteen-year-old cat with severe heartworm infection underwent a novel right atriotomy procedure for heartworm removal. This surgical approach proved successful, leading to the cat's recovery and highlighting its practicality.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Cardiology
- Parasitology
Background:
- Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) infection can cause severe cardiopulmonary disease in cats.
- Caval syndrome, a critical complication, necessitates urgent intervention for heartworm removal.
Observation:
- A thirteen-year-old male cat presented with caval syndrome due to heartworm infection.
- Jugular venotomy was attempted but deemed infeasible due to the cat's small jugular vein size, precluding effective heartworm retrieval with standard instruments.
Findings:
- A successful right atriotomy was performed, utilizing total venous inflow occlusion to enable the safe removal of heartworms.
- The cat experienced a complete recovery from the clinical signs associated with the heartworm infection post-procedure.
Implications:
- Right atriotomy with venous inflow occlusion presents a viable and practical surgical option for removing heartworms in cases of caval syndrome, especially when less invasive methods fail.
- This technique may also help prevent heartworm rupture during surgical removal, reducing the risk of complications.
Abstract:
Heartworm infection with caval syndrome was detected in a thirteen-year-old male cat. However, removal of the heartworms via a jugular venotomy was infeasible because the size of the jugular vein limited our ability to use flexible alligator forceps. Therefore, a right atriotomy using total venous inflow occlusion was performed to remove the heartworms. The procedure was accomplished successfully, and the cat recovered from its symptoms. The present case suggests that right atriotomy using venous inflow occlusion is practical for removal and prevention of rupture of heartworms.
