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Fossa ovalis tear causing right to left shunting in a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Geri A Lake-Bakaar1, Mai Yee Mok, Mark D Kittleson

  • 1William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA. galakebakaar@ucdavis.edu

Journal of Veterinary Cardiology : the Official Journal of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology
|November 1, 2012
PubMed

Insights

A rare interatrial septal tear caused acute right-to-left shunting and respiratory distress in a dog. This condition, secondary to tricuspid regurgitation and pulmonary hypertension, is significant for diagnosis and prognosis.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Cardiology
  • Comparative Pathology
  • Canine Medicine

Background:

  • Severe mitral regurgitation from myxomatous mitral valve degeneration can lead to left atrial tears.
  • Interatrial septal tears causing left-to-right shunts are uncommon.
  • Right-to-left shunting from acute interatrial septal tears is exceptionally rare in humans and unreported in veterinary literature.

Observation:

  • A dog presented with acute respiratory distress.
  • Echocardiography revealed acute onset right-to-left shunting through the interatrial septum.
  • The interatrial septal tear was secondary to tricuspid regurgitation and pulmonary hypertension.

Findings:

  • This case documents the first report of acquired right-to-left shunting atrial septal defect in a dog.
  • Clinical, radiographic, echocardiographic, and histopathologic features were analyzed.
  • The findings confirm a tear in the interatrial septum leading to significant shunting.

Implications:

  • Acquired right-to-left shunting atrial septal defects have critical clinical and prognostic implications.
  • This condition should be considered in canine patients presenting with acute respiratory distress.
  • Highlights the importance of comprehensive echocardiographic evaluation in complex cardiac cases.

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