A Case of Cor Triatriatum with Atrial Septal Defect

Anaesthetic management of three Maine Coon cats undergoing hybrid intervention for treatment of cor triatriatum sinister

“…In CTS, the left atrium is divided horizontally into two separate chambers by a thick fibro‐muscular membrane, 1,2 resulting in the appearance of ‘three atria’. This has been documented in humans 3,4 and more recently in dogs 5,6 and cats 7–14 . In most cases, there are one or more openings in the pathological membrane that increase the resistance to flow between the proximal high‐pressure chamber, which drains the pulmonary venous blood, and the distal low‐pressure chamber, which communicates with the atrioventricular valve and the left auricle 1,2 …”

“…This has been documented in humans 3,4 and more recently in dogs 5,6 and cats. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] In most cases, there are one or more openings in the pathological membrane that increase the resistance to flow between the proximal high-pressure chamber, which drains the pulmonary venous blood, and the distal low-pressure chamber, which communicates with the atrioventricular valve and the left auricle. 1,2 Depending on the severity of the disease and the time of presentation, the pathophysiological consequences may vary from mild to severe.…”

“…A heart murmur is usually present, and many patients develop pulmonary oedema. 7,[10][11][12] Conservative treatment resulted in an unfavourable 8,10,11 or undescribed 14 outcome, but surgical treatment has been reported with good results, either by hybrid cutting balloon dilatation, 12 by a technique using a Cooley valve dilator 13 or by open-heart surgical membrane resection with the patient placed on cardiopulmonary bypass. 7 As there is little information in the literature about the anaesthetic and perioperative management of cats undergoing hybrid cutting balloon dilatation, this case series aims to provide an insight into the challenges associated with anaesthetising three cats for a hybrid intervention.…”