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Dilated coronary sinus in a dog with persistent left cranial vena cava
M J Fernandez del Palacio1, A Bayon, A Agut
1Departamento de Patología Animal, Universidad de Murcia, España.
Summary
A persistent left cranial vena cava caused a dilated coronary sinus in a Beagle. This incidental finding was diagnosed using electrocardiography, echocardiography, and angiocardiography.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Cardiology
- Comparative Cardiovascular Anatomy
Background:
- Persistent left cranial vena cava (PLSVC) is a rare congenital anomaly.
- Dilated coronary sinus can be a sequela of PLSVC.
Observation:
- Electrocardiography revealed specific P wave abnormalities (negative in III, aVR; positive in aVL).
- Echocardiography identified a hypoechoic circular structure near the left atrium and pericardium, with characteristic Doppler velocity patterns and M-mode phasic movements.
- Contrast echocardiography demonstrated bubble flow into the coronary sinus from both left and right cephalic vein injections.
Findings:
- Non-selective angiocardiography confirmed a dilated coronary sinus and the presence of PLSVC.
- The right cranial vena cava was absent.
- The Beagle was clinically normal, indicating the anomaly was an incidental finding.
Implications:
- This case highlights the diagnostic utility of multimodal imaging in identifying cardiovascular anomalies in dogs.
- Understanding the anatomical variations and their diagnostic features is crucial for accurate veterinary cardiology assessments.
- The findings contribute to the literature on congenital cardiovascular anomalies in canine models.